《Revenant Of Desolation》 01: Best Day Of my Life Everything was perfect. I had been promoted to a higher position at work, and I''d just finished talking to my realtor, who told me the house I wanted was now mine. Now, I was driving over to my girlfriend of four years to ask her to marry me. I parked in her driveway, turned off the ignition, and reached into my pocket, pulling out a small black ring case. "You got this, Peter. Just ring the doorbell, get on one knee, and propose," I muttered to myself. Then I frowned. "Or should I wait to see her first before getting on my knee? Should I get on one knee before or after the door opens?" I lightly slammed my head against the steering wheel and groaned. "Well, no use overthinking it." I pulled the key from the ignition, grabbed the bouquet of dahlias from the passenger seat¡ªher favorite¡ªand stepped out of the car. Using the side mirror, I checked my reflection. I was still in my office wear from work. Not ideal, but it would do. I''d been to this house a million times, but tonight felt as nerve-wracking as the first time I asked her on a date. I was stressing over nothing, right? I mean, what''s the worst that could happen? She could say no. "Fuck it," I said, taking a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. After a minute or two, the door swung open. It wasn''t Chloe. It was her mother, Mrs. Henderson. She had wheat-blonde hair, sharp grey eyes, and pink lips. Her figure could''ve inspired a gixar mom character¡ªbig thighs, wide hips, and a small waist. "Oh, Peter! Good evening," she said, her eyes scanning me from head to toe. When her gaze landed on the bouquet and my formal attire, her lips curled into a knowing smile. "What brings you here?" she asked playfully. "Hi, Mrs. Henderson. Is Chloe home?" "She is, but you haven''t answered my question," she said, her piercing gaze making me sweat. It felt like being in an exam room when the teacher looms over your desk, even if the test is easy you still feel like you are doing something wrong. "Well¡­ The thing is¡­ You know how people¡­ People who¡­" I stammered, my hands growing clammy as I undid my collar button and pulled my tie loose with my free hand. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "Hm, when did you start stuttering? Come in; this is like your home too, isn''t it?" she said with a grin on her face before stepping aside. "Yes, ma''am," I replied, moving inside the house quickly. I''d been here countless times and knew the layout like the back of my hand. Yet, for some reason, I headed to the dining room instead of the obvious choice¡ªthe living room. My palms were sweaty, my mind racing, and my heart pounding so loudly I didn''t even notice Chloe''s dad sitting at the dining table, sipping coffee. "Good evening, Mr. Henderson," I said nervously, gripping the bouquet so tightly I broke a few stems. He cleared his throat, raising an eyebrow. "Feeling jittery today, Peter?" "A little, sir," I admitted. "Is there something you want to get off your chest, son?" "Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir. Actually¡­ yes," I blurted, squeezing my eyes shut. "Mr. Henderson, I''d like your blessing." "Hm. Blessing?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his tone. "I want to propose to Chloe, sir. And I''d like your blessing," I said in one hurried breath. "That''s why you look like that," he chuckled. "Don''t worry, champ. You had my blessing when you helped me build the patio out back. This is just a formality." I exhaled in relief, but he wasn''t done. "My wife, though¡­ that''s a different story. Good luck," he added with a smirk before taking a sip of his coffee. "Thank you, sir," I said, my nerves easing slightly. Footsteps approached behind me¡ªthree distinct sets. One must have been Mrs. Henderson, the second Chloe''s younger brother, Michael, and the third¡­ Chloe. "Why do I have to be here?" Michael groaned. At seventeen he was taken from his room and obviously he was forced here, his annoyance was understandable. And then there she was. Chloe. Breathtaking as always. She wore no makeup, just a plain old t-shirt and sweatpants, but she didn''t need anything fancy to look beautiful. Her shoulder-length hair framed her deep green eyes and pink lips. Even in baggy clothes, her figure was unmistakable. "Pete, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice light and teasing. I handed her the bouquet of roses, watching as a wide smile lit up her face. She brought them to her nose, inhaling deeply. "What''s the occasion?" she asked playfully. God, I love her. "Chloe, being with you has been the best thing that''s ever happened to me. You''re thoughtful, you see the best in the world even when it''s hard, and you have this way of looking at me that makes time stand still," I said, my heart pounding. Her smile deepened, but I noticed her eyes narrowing slightly. "Although," I added, "you have a bit of a problem admitting when you''re wrong. And you''re stubborn. Very hard-headed." Her glare sharpened, but the faint smile remained. "Still, I''m glad that out of everyone you''ve ever met, you chose me. I know I''m not perfect, but I promise to try my best for you." I pulled out the ring case and dropped to one knee. Chloe''s hands flew to her mouth. "Chloe Alan Henderson, would you be willing to spend the rest of your life with this idiot?" She whispered, "Yes." Then, louder, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" practically shouting each one. I stood, pulling her into a tight hug that lifted her feet off the ground. I spun us around, her laughter filling the air. "You idiot, you didn''t even put the ring on me yet," she said, still holding me. "Who cares about the ring? You said yes!" "I care. And I''m pretty sure my dad does too," she teased. Her dad chimed in, "She''s right, champ." Reality hit me. I realized we had an audience¡ªMrs. Henderson, Mr. Henderson, and even Michael, who now seemed genuinely interested. I sheepishly let Chloe down and slid the ring onto her finger. The room erupted in cheers. Chloe wiped away a tear while her father invited me to stay for dinner. How could I say no? The meal was filled with laughter, joy, and the occasional teasing glance from Michael. Throughout, I couldn''t help but steal glances at my fianc¨¦e¡ªmy soon-to-be wife. After dinner, Chloe walked me to my car. Once we were sure her parents weren''t around, I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her waist. We kissed, her hands trailing up to rest on my shoulders. "You should go before I drag you to my room," she whispered, her voice laced with mischief. "Is that a threat or a promise?" I teased. "Just go!" she laughed, gently pushing me toward the car. I kissed her forehead before stepping into my car and driving off. I wasn''t sure about a lot of things in life, but one thing was certain: this was the best day of my life. 02: Interesting Predicament I kept replaying what had happened in my mind¡ªthe way Chloe''s smile never faded, how she kept stealing glances at me, and how I did the same. I still couldn''t believe I was engaged to her, and what made it even better was that her family approved of me. I know it''s supposed to feel like this, but how does someone stop themselves from smiling? Seriously, I could feel the muscles in my face straining. As I took a turn, a car tried to overtake a truck and ended up in my lane. All I saw was a blinding white light, and by instinct, I abruptly turned my steering wheel away. It wasn''t the safest option since we were on a mountain road, and the direction I turned sent me hurtling toward a metal railing meant to block cars from going over the edge. But it didn''t offer much protection when the car rolled over it. BANG! As soon as my car hit the railing, everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. The airbags deployed, my windshield shattered, and shards of glass flew toward me. I felt the back of the car rising as it somersaulted over the edge. My heart skipped a beat. Adrenaline or fear¡ªI couldn''t tell what it was¡ªflooded my system, and every part of my body felt ice cold. I tried to raise my arms to protect my face, but my hands seemed glued to the steering wheel. Some people say that when you''re about to die, your life flashes before your eyes. Others say your mind recalls the best moments of your life. But all that replayed in my head was: "Yes! Yes! Yes! You idiot, you didn''t even put the ring on me yet." I don''t want to die, was the first thought in my head after Chloe. I want to marry her. What about my parents? Jacob might take care of them, but what about the house? I just finished the last installment A flood of questions came to mind, but they were abruptly cut off when something yanked me so hard that my body was pulled from my seat and out of the car. I was dragged at incredible speed, and I think I saw something like a portal from Pick and Norty, except it was red instead of green. "What the fuck?" I blurted out as I was pulled into the portal I wondered if I was already in a coma. I was dropped¡ªor rather, slammed¡ªonto the ground so hard that cracks formed beneath me. This should''ve hurt like hell, but it didn''t it felt like, actually it didn''t feel like anything. "What''s going on? Why am I here?" I muttered, pushing myself up. "Where¡­ or exactly what the hell is here?" I asked, looking around. The ground was barren and cracked, like a wasteland scorched by fire. Fiery orange and crimson light bled across the sky, casting an eerie glow over the landscape. The air was heavy and still, filled with the scent of sulfur and ash. In the distance, rising like a dark sentinel against the fiery sky, was a castle. Its towering spires pierced the heavens, wrapped in shadowy red mist. The structure looked ancient. Its blackened stone walls crumbled in places, and rivers of lava flowed around its base, illuminating it with a sinister glow. The castle stood on a jagged cliff, surrounded by a bottomless abyss. A narrow, worn bridge led to it, looking like it could collapse with a single misstep. "Is this hell? What the fuck am I doing in hell?" I shouted, standing up. I wasn''t the most righteous person in the world, but I was pretty sure I shouldn''t have ended up in hell. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "It''s official. I''m dead," I muttered as all the strength drained from my body, forcing me to sit. I can''t believe I died right after proposing talk about shitty scenarios. "Oh, shut up. You''re not dead yet," a booming voice said, reverberating from every direction like speakers in a concert. "Oh, shit!" I shouted, scrambling to my feet and looking around. "Okay, what the fuck is going on here?" "You cuss a lot, stop it and get over here," the voice said . "Fuck no!" I yelled, turning and sprinting like my life depended on it well it did. I managed running a few meters before the same force yanked me again, dragging me toward the castle. I was about to slam into its massive doors, so I did what any sane person would do in this moment, I closed my eyes and braced for impact. But there was no collision. When I opened my eyes, I was kneeling in front of¡­ I don''t know what the fuck it was. My torso was tied with a fiery red rope this was what has been pulling me. The figure on the throne must have been at least fourteen feet tall. A crown of bones sat atop its head, specked with red flames that danced along its surface. Long white hair flowed down its back, and its face was a grotesque blend of a bat and a human like someone tried to make a human and a bat that were already ugly into something even more fucked up. The creature leaned on one of it''s hand or paw on the armrest of its throne, its clawed hand resting lazily on the chair. Its attire was a strange mix between a gown and a robe¡ªlike something you''d see in a renaissance or when nerd are larping. If I had to describe this thing in one word: dreadful. "I have a question. Where were you running to?" it asked, waving a hand to make the fiery rope disappear from my torso making me finally breath "I¡­ I don''t know," I admitted. "That''s all you have to say?" it said with a tinge of amusement . "Well, I don''t blame you. Given your realm and its¡­ lackings, it makes sense that you''d run." The creature paused before continuing. "I''m curious. Where do you think you are, and what do you think I am?" "Hell. And you must be the devil. Though you''re fuglier than I imagined," I said. I was already in hell¡ª I mean what worse could happen? I''m already here it''s not like I can get in more trouble what''s done is done. "Fugly? Interesting," it said, raising a single finger. A torrent of red flames erupted around me, so fast lifting me into the air. The fire tightened around me like chains, searing my flesh. The pain was beyond anything I''ve ever felt , it was like someone was pouring boiling oil and salt poured at the same time while someone peeled my burning skin with a vegetable peeler. "AHHHHH!" I screamed, my voice cracking under the agony. After what felt like eternity, the flames subsided, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. "Sorry about that. My face is a sore spot," it said in . "Got injured, you see. Anyway, let me clarify¡ªthis isn''t hell, and I''m not the devil. My name is Raxus, and this is my domain." I was on all fours still gasping, I managed to lift my head as the pain slowly faded. "You''ll need a moment before the pain. Everyone''s like this the first time and when they die there is never an in between," Raxus said. "No matter. You don''t need to talk¡ªjust listen. Peter Hemsworth, I have a proposition for you. Do a small task for me, and in return¡­" The ground beneath me disappeared. I was now floating on a familiar road. My eyes scanned the road, and I saw a truck that was about to fall smash a black Mustang like a pancake. Further down, a Camaro was driving off the edge of a cliff. None of the vehicles were moving¡ªit was as if they was like looking at a picture. "What''s going on?" I asked, struggling to stay upright I recognised the camaro but it couldn''t be, could it? Raxus didn''t answer, simply moving us closer to the Camaro. Inside, I saw myself or something that looked like. Behind the steering wheel, Glass shards were lodged in my face, and more floated around me. The car hadn''t hit the ground yet, but it was close still had a couple more feet before it did. "How are you doing this?" I asked. "Simple," Raxus replied. "Time moves differently between realms. A minute in my realm could be a month or a year in yours. Right now, we''re operating on my time that''s why things look as they are." "I still don''t understand." "No need to get into the physics of it," Raxus said with a dismissive wave. "The point is: you do what I ask and you accomplish it, and I''ll get you out of your¡­ interesting predicament. You can go back, marry that girl, and live your little mortal lifes together make more little mortal kids and then die." " so what say you? "Raxus asked. 03: The Deal Is Simple The being called Raxus transported us back to its castle, specifically the castle''s dining room. Through means I wouldn''t understand, I found myself sitting in a chair opposite Raxus. I could still see the crimson sky from the windows. This place was as close to hell as I could think. We sat at a really long medieval style table, I''d say three meters long. Even though the table seemed to accommodate a lot of people, it only had two seats: mine and Raxus''s on opposite ends. "Do we have an understanding or not? Because I can send you back, let you test your luck, see if you''d survive the fall," Raxus said in a mocking tone. Why the hell does his voice boom like a surround system? I decided Raxus was a ''he'' based on his voice. "First of all, am I still in the car?" "Unless you have a twin sibling, then yes." "How am I here? Is this my soul or...?" "I thought it was obvious, given your appearance." What''s wrong with my appearance? I looked at my hands, and I didn''t see any differ.. huh, that''s new. I thought to myself as I saw my palms. I covered my eyes, and I could see Raxus through my hands. It felt like wearing sunglasses it still had my complexion but was like seeing through a plastic bag or a hologram. Not just my hands but my whole body. I could see my chair through my thighs. "Is my entire body transparent?" I asked as I scanned myself. Maybe I hadn''t noticed before because when I arrived here, I was still wearing my suit or at least a spirit version of my suit. Maybe that''s what reassured me that my body was still here. "Yes, it is. Also, like I said," Raxus paused and pointed at me, "this isn''t your body. It''s what the people of your realm call a soul. What I''m talking to now is your soul. Taking your body would... never mind." "Interesting. So, back to what''s important how can you help me?" I asked. "The deal is simple. You help me, and through that, you will survive." "Yeah, you still haven''t answered my question. Maybe I''m not being clear enough: HOW WILL YOU HELP ME?" I half-shouted and half-emphasized each word. I was sick of how he was dodging the question. Also, people who knew me said I was sometimes impatient. Like before, Raxus lifted his hand, and a red, misty rope of flames appeared around my neck. He closed his hand into a fist, and the rope tightened, simultaneously choking me and giving me the exact same pain as before. "You don''t seem to understand just where you are, who you''re talking to, and specifically what I can do to you. I can turn you into a pile of nothingness. I could just destroy your soul right here, turning that body of yours into a bag of bones." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. "Www..." I tried saying something, but I couldn''t. Raxus eased the rope just a little, enough for me to speak. "Then do it. I''m dead either way," I strained, saying as I tried grabbing the rope and pulling. My fingers burned as soon as I did. "You said I don''t understand oh, I understand. You were the one who abducted me; you are the one who offered me a deal. So I''ll ask again: How the fuck are you going to help me!?" "You think I can''t replace you? I could always use the mortal you fancy," Raxus said in a really sinister tone. I''d admit I was terrified when he said this. The thought of Raxus burning Chloe with his mysterious flames made me sick to my core. But I realized something: He could just have said he would send me back and bring a different human. I''m the one who''s going to die. Instead, he mentioned Chloe just to pressure me. Why? It either means I meet the criteria he needs, or bringing me used a lot of his power. "That''s... bullshit, and you know it. Even when we were visiting the crash site, we were operating on your realm''s timeline, so obviously you can''t mess with realms. We couldn''t even touch my car believe me, I tried," I strained, saying. I could see Raxus''s face twist up at what I said, confirming my suspicion. I wasn''t t as powerless as he wanted me to think, which gave me a little hope. "I don''t like repeating myself, so for the last fucking time: How will you help me?" I said, still trying to pull the flame rope from my neck. "Hmm, my gamble gave me a pain in the ass," Raxus said, threw his head back, and let out a deep, guttural laugh that echoed through the room. The sound was sharp and grating, like a thousand bones snapping at once. In all honesty, his laugh was more terrifying than his mug. He released my throat. Finally, I could breathe. Wait a minute this is my soul. Why did I still need to breathe? My lungs were currently in my body, so how? Also, why am I thinking this? I literally have a being that''s uglier than hell in front of me, and I''m thinking about my lungs. "True, summoning you here took a lot of power. Messing with the causality drained me, and it had some backlash. I won''t be able to do it again for a long time," Raxus said as he contemplated it. "So how will you bring me back?" I asked. There is nothing more annoying than a deal whose terms are ambiguous because it will bite you in the ass later. "What do you mean?" Raxus asked. "I mean, if taking me from my ''realm'' drained your power, then how would you put me back?" "Oh, there is a difference. Putting you in my realm was difficult you''ve never been here. But now that you''re here, it has become easier. Your soul is now accustomed to my realm and yours. Transferring you back would be like doing a refund on that Anazom," Raxus said. His voice, or his surround system, had no hint of doubt. "And on the matter of how ''I''ll fucking help you,'' as you so eloquently put it: I want you to be my revenant. When you accumulate enough of my power and accomplish my task, I will take you back to your realm, where you will have approximately an hour before my power abandons you. Which will be enough to save you." So he needs me, and I need him. Basically, this is a symbiotic relationship. "So what you''re trying to say is we both need each other?" I asked, mostly because I wanted him to say it or, more specifically, I wanted him to say that he needs me. "Yes. I can''t wait a thousand more years to try and summon another piece of shit. Even then, the defenses from both realms would have improved, making it harder to crack," Raxus said, which meant that he was stuck with me unless he''s patient enough. "So what''s a revenant?" I asked as I leaned back on the chair. I was now able to relax a little, knowing I wasn''t in hell and that Raxus would not kill me yet. "A revenant is someone that''s supposed to be dead," Raxus grinned as he made piercing eye contact. I didn''t notice, but his eyes were slit like a cat''s, and his irises were both red, just like his power and his domain. "Like a certain someone here." "So I''ll give you my power, and you''ll do a small task for me. And I''ll send you back. We''ll both be rid of each other." "You''re preaching to the choir. So what do you want me to do?" "Not much, really. I just want you to kill my brothers and sisters. But my advice? Start with their apprentices. My siblings are just as powerful as me... makes it easier." I mean, I wasn''t expecting much, but that... that was... I mean, just what the fuck. "Wait, your actual brothers and sisters?" I asked in both doubt and confusion. I mean, even if Jacob got on my nerves, I would never think of breaking him, let alone... "Yes," he said so casually. "Maybe I didn''t clarify. Your blood-related siblings?" "Yes. Well, they did imprison me here for centuries. It''s obvious I would be pissed, wouldn''t you?" "Why did they?" "Well, just because my apprentice killed all of theirs and tried to be one of us." Yeah, this guy is fucking insane. I''d say it to his face, but those flames even the thought of them made me wince. "So are you in or out?" 04: Raxuss Backstory I came from a family of nine¡ªseven siblings and two parents. I was the youngest. My siblings were Veyron, Lysara, Dain, Sylas, Orin, and Kaelith, from our oldest to our second last born. My parents were unique. My father was an inventor, called the greatest mind to ever exist. His inventions spearheaded the evolution of our world, shaping nations with his brilliance. My mother was one of the leading researchers in mana, uncovering the very foundation of magic itself. Like they say, the two were meant for each other. It comes as no surprise that this meant we held a high place in the world, which I was grateful for. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. I was born with a rare condition where my skin kept drying and shrinking to my bones, making me, as you so eloquently put it, fugly. My family hid me inside our home, embarrassed by my existence. I couldn''t blame them. Even the servants in our house would look at me with disgust¡ªI''m sure if it weren''t for my status, they would have spat in my face. I still remember one of them, a young maid, who used to leave food outside my door like I was some beast in a cage. She never met my eyes, never spoke to me. I once tried to thank her, just to see if she''d acknowledge me. She flinched and ran. I learned to accept isolation, to endure the whispers, the avoidance, the shame I brought upon my family. I buried myself in my mother''s research, the only thing that gave me a sense of worth. But none of it mattered in the end. Our lives took a turn for the worse when the emperor died and his son took the throne. A boy drunk on power, too foolish to see past his own paranoia. His advisors whispered poison in his ears, warning him that my father and mother''s influence posed a threat to his reign. And so, as always, power makes a person do unimaginable things. A rumor spread¡ªmy father was conspiring with the elves, selling military secrets and weapons. It didn''t matter that there was no proof. Three months later, the soldiers came. They stormed into our house, armored boots echoing like the drums of war. They dragged my father out of his own home like a dog. I remember our siblings and my mother pleading, crying, screaming. But the soldiers didn''t care. They kicked us away like insects, conjured flames to keep us back. Four weeks. That''s how long my father wasted away in a dungeon, given only one meal a day, rotting in darkness. No visits. No trials. Only the waiting. Then the verdict came¡ªpublic execution. I still remember it. The way his head rolled on the ground. The way the emperor grinned as though he had just won a game. The sound of the crowd¡ªsome cheering, some silent. The sickening thud of my father''s head hitting the dirt, his lifeless eyes staring at nothing. My mother fell to her knees, a scream ripping from her throat. I had never heard her sound like that. It wasn''t grief. It wasn''t sorrow. It was fury. My mother¡ªshe went through the stages of grief. But she never got past the anger. At this point in time, our assets were confiscated. Our home, our status, our safety¡ªeverything was stripped away. My mother''s research, my father''s life''s work, stolen. And we were left to survive in a world we weren''t prepared for. I was a target. My ailment made sure of that. Beatings, insults, rock showers¡ªevery day was a reminder that I was nothing. I remember the laughter of street children as they threw stones at me, their aim improving with each hit. My siblings tried to shield me, but they were suffering too. We all were. My mother¡­ she disappeared from time to time. She would return in the early hours of the morning, looking exhausted, defeated, and carrying a hint of shame. As a child, I didn''t understand where she went. But my older siblings did. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Then, on my eighteenth birthday, she called all seven of us together. She told us the truth. While she had fought to put food in our mouths, she had also searched. She had hunted for something beyond mortal means¡ªsomething that could change our fate. And she found it. An elixir. No, not an elixir¡ªa force. A remnant of something ancient, something beyond magic. It pulsed with power, and it whispered. It did not demand obedience. It did not ask for loyalty. It only required a sacrifice. Before we could fully grasp what she said, our mother took a blade and cut her own throat. We knew why she did it. She wanted to give us power, enough power to avenge our father¡ªeven if it cost her own life. And for that, we wouldn''t let her sacrifice be in vain. We drank. Veyron, our eldest, obtained the flames of the universe itself, hotter than the sun, consuming all in its path. Lysara wielded the light¡ªnot for guidance, but as a weapon sharp enough to cut through reality. Dain bent gravity to his will, making the world itself kneel before him. Sylas embraced ice, not the kind that melts, but the kind that steals the warmth of life itself. Orin took illusions, so powerful they could fool even us, turning truth into lies and lies into truth. Kaelith accepted decay, making time her servant, reducing anything to dust with a mere touch. And me¡­ The Crimson of Desolation. Fire that did not burn, yet consumed. Decay that did not rot, yet reduced all to nothing. A power that was neither one nor the other, yet more terrifying than both. We hunted down the people responsible for orphaning us. The emperor sent his armies after we slaughtered his advisors. Thousands of men stood against us. They had numbers. We had power. The battles were not battles. They were massacres. The first army they sent against us was fifty thousand strong¡ªelite warriors, battle-hardened knights, and mages trained for war. They came with banners flying high, thinking they were marching into a victory that would be sung about for centuries. We made sure there were no songs. Veyron was the first to strike. A single wave of his hand and the frontlines erupted in fire hotter than any forge, hotter than the core of the earth. Steel melted like wax, armor fused to flesh, and screams of agony filled the air as soldiers burned alive before they could even lift their weapons. Lysara followed, stepping into the chaos, her golden light cutting through the battlefield like a divine blade. It was blinding¡ªsome thought it was salvation until their bodies split apart before they could understand what had happened. Dain took control next. A flick of his wrist, and the ground beneath their feet became their greatest enemy. Gravity twisted, crushed, and folded men in half like they were nothing more than paper dolls. Some were slammed into the ground so hard their bodies left imprints in the dirt. Others were launched into the sky, flailing as they vanished into the clouds, never to be seen again. The enemy mages tried to fight back, casting walls of ice and stone, barriers meant to slow us down. That''s when Sylas stepped forward. His ice did not build walls¡ªit tore through them. He froze the very blood in their veins, turning men into statues of brittle flesh. When they shattered, it was like glass breaking, their frozen remains scattering across the battlefield. Orin walked through the carnage like a phantom, his illusions twisting reality itself. Entire battalions turned on each other, slashing at their own comrades, screaming in terror as they saw loved ones in our place. One general dropped his sword and wept, believing he had run his own son through the chest. He had not. But the illusion didn''t let him see the truth. Kaelith didn''t need theatrics. Her touch was enough. She walked through the battlefield, running her fingers along steel and flesh alike. Swords rusted in their wielders'' hands, shields crumbled into dust, and men collapsed mid-swing, their bodies rotting before they could even scream. And then there was me. I did not burn. I did not rot. I did not cut, nor crush, nor freeze. I simply erased. Where I walked, nothing remained. Armor, flesh, bone¡ªit all dissolved into crimson ash. I willed it, and men fell, their bodies unraveling at the seams. Some tried to run, only to find their legs gone before they took their first step. By the time the battle ended, the battlefield was unrecognizable. There were no bodies to bury, no weapons to salvage. Only silence, only ash. We moved from city to city, kingdom to kingdom. Some resisted, believing they could fare better than the last army. Some surrendered the moment they saw us. It didn''t matter. The outcome was always the same. Two years. That''s how long it took to carve our way to the palace. The emperor was no longer a boy, but it didn''t matter. The moment he saw us, he pissed himself like a child. We made sure his suffering lasted. Seven days of torment. Seven days of screams. By the third day, he was begging us to end him. By the seventh, his body finally gave out. And the throne was empty. Naturally, it was ours for the taking. But we didn''t just stay in the human territory. We spread. We conquered. We ruled. And for centuries, we came to be known as Sovereigns. 05: Rebirth 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¡ªthe 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¡ªyou 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¡ªyou¡¯re the gun.¡± Raxus smirked. ¡°Now, enough questions. Every second is precious. I¡¯ll ask again¡ªare 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¡ªexcept 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¡ªwhere 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¡ªlike 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? Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. 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¡ªhours?¡ªthe 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¡ªmore 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¡ªthis 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¡ªand 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¡ªlike 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.