《Chaos child》 Chapter One: Emptiness Chapter One: Emptiness A soft breeze drifted through the air, carrying the scent of rust and old metal. The sky, painted in hues of somber orange, stretched endlessly as the sun lingered on the horizon. Beneath it lay a vast junkyard, a graveyard of forgotten relics and discarded treasures. To most, it was just a sea of broken scraps. But to children, it was a land of adventure, where myths of hidden treasures and lost trinkets sparked excitement. Laughter echoed through the evening air as hurried footsteps rustled against the dirt. ¡°Hey! What do you guys think we¡¯ll find today?¡± A grey-haired boy grinned, his sharp blue eyes glimmering with excitement. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± A boy with jade-green eyes placed a hand on his chin, deep in thought as they ran toward the junkyard. ¡°I hope we find a shiny crystal!¡± A petite girl chimed in eagerly. ¡°I can add it to my gem collection¡ª¡± ¡°Boring!¡± The biggest boy in the group cut her off. ¡°I¡¯m gonna find a huge sword and fight off the Badlands bandits!¡± Their chatter filled the air as they made there way to the junkyard. The group consisted of four children, each unique in their own way. The grey-haired boy, Xavier, was the oldest¡ªtall and lean, yet full of energy. The biggest boy, Jacquez, had a stockier build, his spiky brown hair and round, coal-coloured eyes giving him an intimidating presence. The petite girl, Alexis, wore a pink dress that matched her soft, curious gaze. Finally, the youngest, Raion, trailed slightly behind. With slicked-back black hair and cautious jade-green eyes, he was the most hesitant of them all. ¡°Raion, you¡¯ve been quiet this whole time. Are you okay?¡± Xavier glanced back at him. Raion hesitated, then muttered, ¡°Guys¡­ I still don¡¯t think this is a good idea¡ª¡± ¡°Ugh, not this again.¡± Jacquez groaned. ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t be a loser, Raion,¡± Alexis teased. Xavier sighed as Raion clenched his fists in silence, his face tensing as he tried to hide his frustration. ¡°It was just a loud noise yesterday,¡± Xavier reasoned. ¡°Yeah, it wasn¡¯t some monster like you thought,¡± Alexis added. Jacquez smirked. ¡°If you¡¯re that scared, you can just go home. Let the big kids have their fun.¡± Raion flinched. His grip tightened. ¡°Yeah, Raion, why don¡¯t you go back to that boring village?¡± Alexis added with a laugh. The others chuckled, but Xavier¡¯s smile faded. He turned to Raion, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder and crouching slightly to meet his gaze. ¡°Come on, guys, relax¡ªit¡¯s not funny.¡± His voice was calm, reassuring. Raion refused to look up, his hands still trembling. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be scared,¡± Xavier said softly. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll protect you.¡± The sun behind them cast long shadows, illuminating their figures in a golden glow. Alexis and Jacquez exchanged looks before nodding. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve got your back,¡± Jacquez said. Raion hesitated. A small smile tugged at his lips before he quickly wiped his eyes. Then, without a word, he turned around¡ªheading back toward the village. The group watched him go, disappointed. ¡°Hmph. Stubborn boy,¡± Alexis muttered, crossing her arms. She turned toward the junkyard, trying to mask her concern. ¡°Well¡­ I tried,¡± Xavier sighed, standing back up. ¡°Wait! If it¡¯s about the sword we argued about, we can shar¡ª¡± Jacquez started. ¡°Give it up, dummy,¡± Alexis interrupted. ¡°It¡¯s not about the sword.¡± Raion had already disappeared into the trees, his silhouette swallowed by the dusk. Jacquez sighed. ¡°Man¡­ it won¡¯t be as fun without all of us.¡± ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m actually glad he¡¯s gone,¡± Alexis said proudly. Xavier gave her a knowing look, smirking. ¡°You don¡¯t mean that.¡± ¡°W-What do you mean?¡± she stammered. ¡°You play with him all the time¡ªway more than my little sisters, or any of your other friends,¡± Xavier teased. ¡°T-That doesn¡¯t mean anything!¡± Alexis turned red, flustered. ¡°What are you gonna do about it?¡± Xavier grinned, stepping back. ¡°I said stop!¡± Alexis lunged at him. Xavier laughed, dodging her as they broke into a playful chase. Jacquez watched them, shaking his head. ¡°Why are we running even faster now¡­?¡± None of them noticed the faint noise coming from behind them. Then¡ª A gust of wind blew past. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Catch me if you can!¡± Raion sprinted past them. For a moment, they froze in shock. Then, the realization hit. Xavier¡¯s face lit up. ¡°No fair! You got a head start!¡± Alexis grinned. ¡°Wait for meee!¡± Jacquez groaned. ¡°Why are we running even faster!?¡± Laughter filled the air as they all ran toward the junkyard¡ªtogether. They arrived. Raion reached it first, his breath steady despite the sprint. He was always the fastest despite his small stature. He was small, but speed had always been his advantage. As he stopped at the entrance, his hands clenched, and his jade-green eyes darted toward it. He swallowed hard. Moments later, Alexis and Xavier arrived, panting. ¡°We made it!¡± she said gleefully, raising her arms in the air while her chest heaved from the strenuous run. "Damn, Raion," Xavier wheezed, bending over with his hands on his knees. "You always gotta run like your life''s on the line?" "It makes things more interesting," Raion replied with a smirk, though his gaze never stopped moving. Alexis rolled her eyes. Xavier took a slow breath, then, seeing Raion standing there, walked toward him. He placed a reassuring hand on Raion''s shoulder and stood by his side. ¡°You ready, big guy?¡± Alexis walked up on the other side of Raion while putting her soft hand on his shoulder and said "Well, at least wait for us next time. We¡¯re supposed to be doing this together." With a new, determined look in his eyes, Raion strode into the junkyard. Xavier followed, and Alexis happily joined them as they walked deeper inside. Jacquez arrived moments later. ¡°Finally, I''m here...¡± he panted, completely out of breath, sweat dripping down his face. After catching his breath, he made his way inside slowly. Once everyone had entered, they scattered throughout the junkyard in search of treasures. The junkyard stretched out like a graveyard of forgotten things, rusted metal and shattered glass glinting under the dim evening light. The air was thick with the scent of oil and decay, a reminder that this place was where things¡ªand sometimes people¡ªwere abandoned. An hour had passed Xavier kicked at a dead magical crystal. "Man, we never find anything good anymore. Just the usual¡ªscrap, dead crystals, and maybe a rat or two." Alexis grinned. "We could always bring back a rat and tell Lyco it¡¯s a magical treasure." Jacquez snorted. Raion with a serious tone says, "Or we could actually look properly instead of whining.¡± Another hour passed ¡°I CAN''T FIND ANYTHING!¡± Alexis wailed in frustration. She plopped down in a fetal position, screaming into her knees. Not far from her, Raion remained single-minded in his determination. He continued rummaging through a large pile of junk, searching for something that caught his eye. Jacquez was the same. He was determined to find something¡ªnamely, a big sword so he could become a swordsman! ¡°GUYS, I FOUND SOMETHING!¡± Xavier shouted happily. Jacquez and Raion continued their search, undeterred, but Alexis perked up with curiosity and approached Xavier. ¡°Sooo shiny...¡± she murmured, eyes wide with awe at the white crystal in Xavier''s hands. She even started to drool. ¡°Cool, right?¡± Xavier said proudly. Alexis was too absorbed in the crystal''s glow. Its surface reflected her image perfectly. But then, her mind began to scheme. ¡°Where did you find it?¡± she asked with a wide grin. Xavier turned slightly, pointing at a nearby pile. ¡°Over there.¡± As soon as his attention shifted, Alexis lunged for the crystal, but Xavier was quicker. He yanked it back just in time. ¡°Heh, trying to trick me, huh?¡± he said smugly. Her face turned red with embarrassment as she tumbled to the ground. ¡°XAVIER, GIVE IT!¡± she shouted. ¡°Hell no! You¡¯ll have to catch me first!¡± he laughed, dashing away. Another hour passed Xavier and Alexis had started to lose interest, but Raion kept searching, his hands coated in dirt, fingers raw from prying through broken scraps. The burning in his arms was nothing¡ªhe had to find something for himself. Jacquez, on the other hand, started strong but his enthusiasm faded as eventually he gave up too not being able to find anything¡ªnot even the big sword he wanted. Defeated, he lay on his back with a blank stare. Raion, still focused, spared a glance at Jacquez and pitied him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jacquez. I¡¯ll find you a big sword, and we can share it.¡± His determination flared even stronger. ¡°Hey Raion you holding up o-¡± he stops as he sees Raion grinning full of determination he sighs in relief¡­ ¡°Hey, Raion, you holding up o¡ª¡± Xavier stopped as he saw Raion grinning, full of determination. He sighed in relief¡­ Raion had lost track of how long they had been here and by now he had already sifted through multiple piles and found nothing. He thought it had been around 4 hours, but with no sun and nothing to mark the passage of time, it was hard to tell. The junkyard was vast, almost daunting yet Raion was determined. ¡°Raion, let''s go home. It''s getting late,¡± Xavier said with a long, weary sigh. ¡°...One more,¡± Raion muttered. ¡°Fine. One more,¡± Xavier conceded, sitting down behind Raion with his legs stretched out. Alexis was already napping, her head resting in Xavier¡¯s lap, while Jacquez lay knocked out on the ground opposite her. ¡°Let this be the one,¡± Raion chanted in his head as he continued digging. His hands were raw and scraped, but he ignored the pain. Minutes passed, and his hope began to wane. Exhaustion and fatigue set in. The sky darkened, clouds swelling ominously. Xavier began waking everyone up. ¡°Okay, time to stop. Let''s go¡ªit''s about to rain.¡± Raion froze, his hands still buried deep in the pile. Frustration built up inside him. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find anything,¡± he whispered, pressing his forehead against the heap. He fell to his knees. Xavier walked up to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll come another day. It¡¯s not every day we find something. Some days, we¡¯re just unlucky, and that¡¯s okay.¡± He turned and started to walk away. The others followed suit. Raion sighed and stood up, attempting to free one arm from the pile. It was stuck. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s stuck... HEY, EVERYONE, COME HELP!¡± he shouted, pulling harder. ¡°Raion, we need to go,¡± Xavier called back. ¡°COME HELP! MY ARM IS STUCK, DAMN IT!¡± Raion yelled in frustration. Everyone rushed to him, pulling with all their strength. With one final yank, they freed him, tumbling backward as the pile collapsed. Scraps of metal and debris flew in all directions. The rain started to fall. And then¡ªsilence. A tense, unnatural silence. Their voices hitched, and their faces paled in horror as they stared at the bottom of the pile. A jagged, withered hand reached out from beneath the debris. The first raindrops fell, soft and scattered. Then more followed, growing into a steady rhythm¡ªa symphony of sound rising with their horror. Realization crashed over them like the coming downpour. In unison ¡°IS THAT A DEAD BODY?!¡± Raion was the first to stumble back. First to run. Realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. This was the same pile from where that loud noise had come. The others quickly followed, fleeing in terror. These foolish kids ran back to the village, too afraid to speak of what they had found. The trouble they would be in would be tremendous. After that, they never returned to the junkyard. Raion was right... But that body wasn¡¯t a corpse. Its heart still beat¡ªsubtly, faintly, but alive. Yet, it didn¡¯t look it. This was the body of a fifteen-year-old boy, his eyes void of all emotion. His skin, pale as the moon. His frame, frail, like one absent of nutrition. A state of total emptiness. He was nothing. And nothing was him. Who had done this to him? How did he get here? ¡°He must have been a peasant or a slave.¡± These were the thoughts of those who knew nothing. And the truth? No one cared. Not Raion. Not the villagers. Not even the scavengers. To them, he was just another piece of discarded junk. Until one day, someone looked upon him and said¡ª ¡°Poor boy.¡± Index - The junkyard was where people discarded their garbage¡ªscraps of all kinds, faulty and broken items, and even construction debris. Villages under development often used junkyards to dispose of rubble and unusable materials, preventing street obstructions. Every village had a local junkyard, but many smaller villages shared one. The one they had entered served three different villages, and the waste was disposed of every acrin (every month) by village mages. People could bring their trash here at any time; there was no set schedule. Chapter Two - Born Chaos Child Chapter Two - Born "Poor boy." Adjusting his gold monocle, a proud, overweight man stood with an air of nobility, his gaze unwavering as he looked upon a boy slowly being crushed beneath a pile of junk and scrap. At first glance, one might assume the man was of noble birth or held some high status. His fine brown suit was smooth and well-fitted, his demeanor composed, almost indifferent to the scene before him. With a measured voice, he spoke. "You will be useful." Reaching down, he pulled the boy out with surprising gentleness. From inside his jacket, he retrieved a small leather satchel. As he unfastened it slightly, a mystifying glow seeped out. Clink. He snapped it shut immediately, standing still as an eerie silence filled the air. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple. "Merely scrap," he muttered, wiping it away before reopening the satchel, this time allowing the white light to fully emerge. Carefully, he took the boy¡¯s frail hand and guided it inside. The glow rapidly enveloped the child''s entire body. Zip. The boy vanished in an instant into the satchel. A satisfied grin crept onto the man¡¯s face as he readjusted his monocle. He stood up, letting out a contented hum before whistling a cheerful tune, his chest puffed out as he strode toward the junkyard¡¯s entrance. He closed his eyes and spoke in a monotone voice. "Arceus." For a moment, nothing. The land around the junkyard was barren¡ªno life, no songs of the forest, only silence and the distant sound of sizzling air, like a desert under an unrelenting sun. Then, faint galloping. A black shadow surged in the distance, dust kicking up behind it. As the sound grew louder, so did the storm of dust and debris following it. Within moments, it arrived, halting just before the man. "Arceus, how was your run?" he asked casually. The massive horse grunted, steam snorting from its nostrils. "Next time, hopefully, you get to go even longer, aye?" He chuckled, patting the beast¡¯s thick neck. Arceus stood at an imposing 219.7 cm, its bulky frame adorned with a mane of light grey and gold, contrasting against its deep ash-colored coat. Struggling at first due to his round belly, the man eventually hoisted himself onto Arceus¡¯ back. "Giddy up!" he commanded, digging his heels in. "Full speed, Arceus! We must return at once." The steed took off like a bolt of lightning, kicking up dirt and stones, the sheer force denting the ground beneath its hooves. Time passed, and evening fell. The sky swelled with thick, churning clouds. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. "Looks like rain again... it''s been falling so frequently lately." The man sighed. Arceus neighed, signaling their approach. "Almost there, I see." As they arrived, the first raindrops began to fall. The mansion before them was grand, its entrance door alone towering over the man. He lived in solitude, surrounded by wealth, with only his horse as a companion. "Arceus, head to the stables. Stay inside¡ªa thunderstorm might start." Dismounting, he entered his home, immediately shutting the door behind him. "Home at last..." The dimly lit living room was vast, with an elongated dining table sitting at its center. To the left, a cobblestone fireplace stood, a pile of wood stacked beside it. Further left, a grand mirror with a gold frame was mounted high on the wall. Seeing the dying embers, he threw in more firewood. The flames roared to life, illuminating the entire space in warm light. Removing his hat and suit jacket, he tossed his monocle onto the table, revealing weary eyes yet a joyous grin. "I must get to work now!" he declared, excitement brimming in his voice. With a golden candleholder in one hand and the leather satchel in the other, he strode toward the spiral staircase. Taking the path downward, he descended into darkness. The deeper he went, the colder it became until pitch-black engulfed him. Snap. A flick of his fingers conjured a tiny burst of fire, which he used to light the candle. The dim glow revealed the stone walls around him. He turned, reciting in a low voice, "Abyssal door, I call on thee... open for me." A magic circle flared beneath his feet, glowing ominously in deep purple. Within moments, he vanished. He reappeared in a narrow, cobblestone corridor. Walking forward, he soon reached a sharp turn, entering a wide chamber. To his right sat a stone desk cluttered with sacrificial tools¡ªamong them, a gold-hilted dagger and a large velvet book embedded with a glowing purple sapphire. To his left, a solid stone wall. Straight ahead, a small staircase led up to a grand sacrificial altar. The entire room pulsed with an eerie, luminous glow, a deep purple hue casting long shadows. The air was heavy¡ªalmost suffocating. But to him, this was home. "Tonight may be the night I finally see you, Mistress." Approaching the desk, he placed the candle down and turned toward the altar. "Magic bag, bring me my dead body." Silence. Nothing happened. Puzzled, he muttered, "Huh...? I thought¡ª" His breath hitched. "Is it not dead?!" Eyes widening, he barked, "Magic bag, take my most recent item!" Zip. The boy appeared atop the altar. The man rushed forward, pressing two fingers to the child''s throat. A pulse. "Breathing... but barely." His voice dropped to a whisper. "That doesn¡¯t explain why I couldn''t sense his mana earlier." His expression darkened. "No matter¡ªit changes nothing." Lifting a bowl of blood from the desk, he muttered, "The last sacrifice should suffice." He ran his fingers along the Abyssal Book, whispering, "Abyssal book of the Deluxe, heed my plea and open." The book groaned, its pages parting begrudgingly, as if annoyed. Flipping through, he found the diagram he sought and carefully replicated the intricate magic circle around the boy using the blood. Once done, he grinned, his face and hands smeared red. "Finally." Grasping the dagger, he ascended the stairs, looming over the boy. Cold eyes met blank ones. The flickering candlelight danced across the blade. Tension thickened. "Sorry you had to experience this... but you''re not the first. And you won¡¯t be the last." His face twisted with fervor. Muscles tensed, he raised the dagger high. "For the Mistress Alana!" The blade plunged deep into the boy¡¯s chest. Blood pooled, his body still. The man knelt, chanting from the book. "Oh great Chaos of the Abyss, I bring a vessel for the Dark Saint Alana, so she may use it as she pleases!" The altar pulsed violently. The magic circle crackled with energy. Then¡ª A sudden, overpowering gust surged through the chamber, rattling the walls. The boy''s body lifted, light bursting from his form. His eyes snapped open. Violet energy spilled from within. The man¡¯s heart pounded. "A-A-A¡ª" The boy''s voice trembled. Then, he grinned. "I CAN FEEL." "I CAN TOUCH." "I CAN SEE." And the room trembled beneath him. chapter 3 - Zero Chapter 3 ¨C Zero Moments during the ritual In an abyss of endless darkness, someone awakens... "I am called upon once again," a voice, eerie and chilling, resonates through the void. A vibrant soul appears where there was nothing. It pulsates with a saturated purple glow, its light stark against the black. "Let¡¯s see what vessel has been brought this time... Hopefully, one of complete compatibility and equivalent soul quality." The soul darts through the vast, empty abyss, searching for something that might meet its needs. A glint of light flickers in the distance. "I see it," it murmurs, its tone sharp with anticipation. Moments later, the soul reaches its destination, only to find the vessel shattered, barely holding onto its existence. "NO! It¡¯s another shattered soul!" she exclaims angrily, her voice reverberating through the abyss. As her frustration grows, her soul screeches, sending waves of purple energy rippling across the void. "This fool is useless! My soul will lose its longevity if this keeps up, and I will truly be gone if that happens..." Unbeknownst to her, this soul... was reacting to her outburst, using the energy to quickly reform itself. "Mm? Is it mending itself? This is unusual..." she mutters in surprise. "DAMMIT!" she growls, frustrated. Alana continues to complain about her situation, each emotional outburst sending larger amounts of energy into the void. The soul, awash in this energy, begins to heal itself, quickly regaining its form until it is whole, though faint. "Hmm? Did it just mend itself?" she says again, more curious than before. She¡¯s completely unaware that her own energy is what caused this. "Whatever it is, doesn¡¯t change anything. It¡¯s still of poor quality. A fading soul is nowhere near compatible with me, nor worthy." As she tries to engulf the soul, she mutters, "This will give me a little more time... but not a lot." Her soul expands and envelops the shattered one, helpless against her might. The energy swirls as she consumes it fully, fading from view. With a sigh, she contracts back to her usual size. "Now I must go into soul dormancy. That fool better bring me a compatible vessel, and quick!" Her purple glow slowly fades into the abyss. An unknown, distorted voice interrupts her. "Hehehe... You can¡¯t erase me." "HUH!?" Alana¡¯s soul trembles, shocked by the audacity. From the side, a new soul begins to emerge, growing rapidly, larger than her own, expanding at an unnatural speed. She attempts to respond instinctively, but the soul grows too fast, soon filling the entire abyss. She struggles to comprehend the scale. "You¡¯re trying to overpower my soul¡¯s will, huh? Fine! Bring it on!" she exclaims, her pride taking over. This becomes a battle of wills. Whoever wins will gain the other''s power. The abyss itself trembles as the two forces clash, sending shockwaves through the darkness, disturbing creatures and spirits of the void who stir at the disturbance. The battle of souls intensifies, one of mystery and one of sainthood. "I, Alana, will win today! HAHA! This will not be my end!" Alana declares as her soul grows to match the other, locking in a violent clash. "THIS IS MY WILL!" "... It¡¯s been fun, but I¡¯m done with games," the distorted voice says coldly, its tone dismissive, as though speaking to a mere peasant. The strange soul grows, filling the abyss with a blinding light, consuming everything in its path, sending shockwaves through the darkness. "This soul is so unpredictable... Who is this?" Alana wonders in disbelief. "I SUBMIT," she declares, finally recognizing defeat. "...Good," the other soul answers simply, its dominance undeniable. Everything goes black. Both souls vanish, leaving only two outlines in the void. One, a woman, floats sideways as though lying on a bed mid-air, her hand resting on her head, one leg lying on her thigh. Her long legs extend out, her eyes narrowed, her lips thin. She wears nothing, her hair so long it could cover her entirely. "So, we meet, boy..." Is this really the same entity? she wonders. His soul holds a great darkness, deeper and more rooted than even the abyss itself. Right now, I feel nothing, nothing at all... And he looks... normal? An outline of a boy appears, sitting cross-legged, seemingly uninterested. "Yeah, I guess we do... Do I know you?" "Did you forget? We were just clashing souls moments ago." "Nope. Just got here." "Well, since you forgot, not only did you beat me in a clash of wills, but you spared me and decided to commune with me. I¡¯m grateful for your sudden mercy," she says slowly, floating closer to him. He stares at her with a clueless look. This fool really doesn¡¯t seem to remember anything, she thinks to herself. Hmm... She grins slightly, formulating a plan. "So, le¡ª" "Question," the boy interrupts immediately. "What is it?" she says, her annoyance clear as a vein pulses on her outlined forehead. "Can you bring me back from death?" "Ah..." Perfect, she thinks optimistically. "Yeah, you just need to make a contract with me." The boy¡¯s interest piques. "Okay, what¡¯s the contract?" "Give me your body, and I¡¯ll give you life." He looks at her blankly. "Are you trying to trick me?" Her face falls. Dammit, I thought he was dumb. "No way. You think I don¡¯t know what that means? I want to live for real, no limitations this time." I guess I¡¯ll have to settle with this for now, she thinks, slightly annoyed. "Okay, how about this: I revive you, but you have to follow my way of life and live utter chaos." When she says the word "chaos," something in him stirs, and his interest sharpens. "Deal." "Well then, let¡¯s make the soul contract. Take my hand." She alters her tall stature to fit his height. "Close your eyes and state your past after me. Then say, ''I make a soul-binding contract with Alana Renfield.'' I¡¯ll say the same at the same time, and we¡¯ll bind as one." ¡°Uh, what¡¯s your name?¡± "No idea." Alana gasps in shock. "Well, figure it out! We¡¯re tight on time¡ªwell, for me at least. That fight we had earlier drained my life force." The boy continues to look at her blankly. She sighs in frustration. "Names are tightly linked to your soul, so just dig deep and declare whatever comes to you." "I am the great dark divine saint that turned the world upside down with the power of chaos by my side." "I¡ªI¡ªI..." The boy reaches deep within himself, drawing on the emotions of nothingness he once felt. "I am someone who simply didn¡¯t exist before... once restricted by someone else¡¯s emotions." "I am... Zero." They open their eyes, and their souls intertwine. Through the outline of their bodies, the connection is clear as they say in unison: Zero: "I make a soul-binding contract with Alana Renfield, following the path of utter chaos." Alana Renfield: "I make a soul-binding contract with Zero, allowing and helping him to live a life without limitations." Alana¡¯s soul begins to merge with Zero¡¯s, but instead of becoming one, it binds to his, an addition to his being. This was Zero¡¯s doing, his dominance clear in the situation. "Hmph..." he grins, looking down on Alana as she is slowly absorbed. "You snake!" she hisses. "You tried me first. Hehe." If Alana¡¯s soul had merged with Zero¡¯s, she would have gained control over his body and soul. But now, separated, they remain distinct entities. Back during the ritual, Zero floats up. Violet light pulsates and cracks the ground beneath him. Rays of light pierce through the magic circle, and the power surging from it shakes the room. Energy fills the space. Then, Zero¡¯s eyes snap open, glowing with malicious intent as a final burst of energy spreads throughout the area, pushing back the man who had been observing him. "AHHHH!" As Zero floats down, violet energy crackles around him. His eyes open again, now glowing with purple irises, his expression cold. He breathes in deeply, feeling the air for the first time, marvelling at the world around him. "I... I CAN SEE," he says, looking at his hands. "I... can hear." He listens to the rumbling of rocks, the sizzling of the magic circle. "I... can touch." He picks up rocks, feeling their rough texture, then another, marveling at how smooth it is. "Haha, this one is smooth." The man watches in disbelief as Zero¡ªrestored to a fuller state¡ªmarvels at everything around him. What the hell just happened? Zero, like a newborn experiencing the world for the first time, seems unaware of the man¡¯s presence. The man, slowly standing, approaches the boy with a dark expression. "I¡¯ll end him for disgracing the mistress¡¯s altar," he thinks as his body glows with thin mana. He raises his hand toward zero A surge of blue mana gathers in the air, coalescing into a crackling energy bolt. He holds it out, his expression twisted with determination. ¡°This mana bolt should be enough to kill him,¡± he mutters. ¡°You will not hurt the Alter anymore.¡± As the spell forms, Zero¡¯s eyes widen in amazement, his usual cool demeanour faltering. He watches the magic carefully, utterly stunned by the sheer power being drawn into the bolt. ¡°Wow,¡± he murmurs, his voice tinged with genuine awe. Then, the man expression shifts, hardening into a cold, detached gaze. ¡°Die. I was sorry before, but now you¡¯ve wronged the Alter of Alana, the Dark Divine Saint.¡± ¡°Alana?¡± Zero repeats, his voice filled with confusion. Suddenly, a wisp of purple light bursts from Zero¡¯s chest, swirling in the air like a ghostly manifestation. It hovers, crackling with dark energy. ¡°Who summons the great Alana?!¡± the wisp calls out, its voice both ethereal and commanding. It¡¯s not her full form, but it bears the unmistakable aura of the Dark Divine Saint. ¡°Aha, is that you, Mistress?¡± the man asks, his cold expression shifting into great surprise. The wisp responds in a tone of disbelief, ¡°Zero, who is this guy?¡± Zero looks back at her, still perplexed but growing increasingly bored as the spell stalls in the air. ¡°You¡¯re hopeless,¡± Alana sighs, her ghostly hand rising to cover her face in exasperation. She looks around, trying to piece together the mess Zero is in. The man, lost in his overwhelming grief, starts crying, his voice breaking. ¡°Mistress, I am Augustus Oleander. I¡¯ve followed your teachings for years, studied your spells, tried to bring you back!¡± Alana¡¯s form flickers as realization dawns upon her, and her disgust is palpable. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re the fool who¡¯s been sending me those faulty souls...¡± she mutters, her voice dripping with disdain. ¡°And now, when you finally bring me a decent vessel, you try to kill him... you really are pathetic.¡± Her words cut through Augustus like a blade, and he falters, his heart shattering as she continues, crossing her ghostly arms in frustration. Zero watches the scene unfold, his expression flat and disinterested, as Augustus collapses into a broken heap of despair. Zero looks back at Augustus, who¡¯s still on floor there in a stupor. Augustus realised his fault and failure in not being able to bring her a worthy body. The commotion doesn¡¯t phase him, though he finds the emotional breakdown of Augustus amusing¡ªhe¡¯s more focused on the magic surrounding him. He places a hand over the Book of Deluxe, and it reacts to him instantly. A soft glow emanates from it, almost as though it recognizes him as its new master. Zero looks down, his curiosity piqued and whispers a command. ¡°Open.¡± The book, now in full compliance, opens effortlessly, displaying a diagram for staff summoning. Zero flips the pages, reading through the instructions as Alana and Augustus look on, dumbfounded by the ease with which the book obeys Zero. Alana, who had been watching with growing frustration, suddenly gasps. ¡°The Book of Deluxe¡­!¡± she says, floating toward it with an almost desperate grace. Her attention shifts immediately from Augustus to the book, and her ethereal form hovers beside it as she wraps her spectral arms around it. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re not as pathetic as I thought, Augustus¡­¡± she muses, her voice dripping with the faintest trace of approval. Augustus stands there, utterly transfixed by the moment of praise. It¡¯s a tiny sliver of validation in an ocean of failure, and it causes his heart to flutter. She acknowledged me¡­ she said my name... Zero watches all of this with a mix of detachment and mild amusement. Augustus might be basking in his rare moment of validation, but it was clear to him that the situation was more about Alana and the book than anything else. Zero¡¯s attention shifts back to the task at hand. ¡°Book of Deluxe, Turn to staff summoning,¡± he says with authority. Alana looks shocked. ¡°Did you complete soul resonance with it already?¡± she asks, incredulity in her voice. ¡°You already resonated with it? How?¡± Zero simply shrugs and says nonchalantly, ¡°No idea. I just felt the connection when I touched it, then a flash of light. Guess that¡¯s it.¡± Alana shakes her ghostly head, confused by the situation. ¡°Soul resonance is supposed to be difficult¡­ especially with relics,¡± she mutters. ¡°It only works when the two souls are compatible. Relics are picky¡ªmuch more than beasts. You can tame beasts over time, but relics... they¡¯re much harder to resonate with.¡± Zero nods, listening but clearly not really paying attention to the intricacies of the magic. His interest is still fixed on the staff that¡¯s about to manifest before him. The Book flips to the correct page, displaying an intricate diagram of a summoning circle that Zero begins to follow. Blood was required, and Alana immediately instructs Augustus to draw it for her. But Zero interrupts her, saying coldly, ¡°I already got it.¡± With a swift motion, Zero plunges the dagger into his own hand, the blade sinking deeply into his palm. The pain makes him sweat but his expression remains frozen. ¡°So this is what pain feels like¡­ interesting,¡± he mutters, unphased as he pulls the blade out and tosses it into a nearby bowl. Alana watches in shock. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asks, her eyes wide. Zero doesn¡¯t even spare her a glance. ¡°Won¡¯t be doing that again,¡± he says dismissively, as though the act was nothing. Blood splatters everywhere as Zero swings his hand through the air with practiced precision. It¡¯s chaotic and messy, yet the blood lands exactly where it needs to. The entire room is painted with it, including both Alana and Augustus. The diagram on the floor is now complete. Alana and Augustus stand stunned as Zero finishes the ritual. The Book of Deluxe hovers before him, glowing with power, and Zero slaps his bloody hand down onto the circle. A ripple of energy spreads out across the entire circle, and the glow turns violet. ¡°Come to me, Staff of the Abyss. Staff of Deluxe!¡± Zero commands, his voice steady and commanding. A moment later, the staff appears, breaking through the ground with an overwhelming force. The impact cracks the stone beneath it as the immense weight of the relic causes the ground to tremble. Alana¡¯s eyes narrow in disbelief. There¡¯s no way he can lift it, she thinks, crossing her arms with a smug smile. This staff is made of the heaviest metal in existence. I was the only one who could wield it before. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. But to her horror, Zero effortlessly swings the staff like it¡¯s nothing, as if it were a baseball bat. ¡°This staff is sick!¡± he exclaims, clearly enjoying the feeling of its power. Alana¡¯s frustration boils over. ¡°Don¡¯t swing IT like that!¡± she snaps, her voice sharp. ¡°IT doesn¡¯t like it!¡± Zero, unfazed, tilts his head, still twirling the staff. ¡°Why not? Seems fine to me.¡± She glares at him, her anger growing as she recalls past instances where she had wielded the staff herself. ¡°When I swung it, you got angry and took it out on my castle!¡± she growls, clearly irked. Zero looks at her, genuinely confused. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Augustus watches the exchange, his jealousy growing. When I was with the book, it barely paid attention to me, he thinks bitterly. But Zero? It¡¯s like he¡¯s the center of its attention. He can¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How did you do that? How did you make it listen to you?¡± Zero glances at him and shrugs. ¡°Soul resonance,¡± he says simply, not thinking much of it. Augustus, still trying to understand, presses on. ¡°When I tried to resonate with the book, it never budged. It ignored me entirely.¡± Alana¡¯s ghostly form stiffens slightly. ¡°Soul resonance... with relics, it¡¯s more about compatibility. It¡¯s difficult. With beasts, you can build a connection over time, but relics¡ªwell, they have their own personalities. And some relics care more about moral qualities or higher soul quality than affinities. The book and the staff have a high standard for that¡­¡± She eyes Zero thoughtfully, her tone now reflecting some begrudging respect. ¡°Your connection to Chaos... it¡¯s so strong that it bypassed all that. Even high-tier affinities wouldn¡¯t make relics react like this. They like you... which means your affinity with chaos is far above what I expected.¡± Zero listens to her explanation, his interest piqued. ¡°I guess I got lucky,¡± he says with a shrug, not really understanding the full depth of what she¡¯s describing. Alana crosses her arms, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. ¡°For example the book and the staff never really liked me because my affinity for Chaos is average. But it¡¯s clearly drawn to you.¡± Augustus looks back and forth between them, realizing the gravity of the situation. ¡°I am forever grateful for your enlightenment, Mistress Alana,¡± he says humbly, bowing his head. Alana, however, is already refocusing. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get down to business. We need to know the current state of world affairs.¡± Agustus still in a state of gratefulness says nothing¡­ Alana rolls her eyes and lets out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Agustus!¡± Augustus snaps out of his reverie. ¡°RIGHT yes!, let¡¯s go upstairs. This room is not in good shape anymore.¡± Zero watches the interaction with a quiet chuckle. So this is what laughter feels like¡­ hehe. They all headed through the long cobblestone corridor, past the magic door teleporter, and upstairs to the living room. As they sat at the elongated dinner table, each of them found their place comfortably. ¡°Zero, are you hungry?¡± Alana asked, glancing at him. ¡°Yeah,¡± Zero replied, his expression unchanged as he felt his stomach¡ªthough, he wasn¡¯t actually hungry. He just wanted to try some food and experience it. ¡°Wait,¡± Alana suddenly said, her tone sharp. ¡°How long have you been naked, Zero?¡± Zero paused, realizing with a slight shock that he indeed had no clothes on. Augustus noticed this as well, and they all looked at him, waiting for an answer. ¡°Uh, yeah... I was wondering why I was so cold,¡± Zero muttered, rubbing the back of his head with an embarrassed chuckle. ¡°Augustus, get this man some clothes right away,¡± Alana said, her voice laced with disappointment. ¡°This fool...¡± Augustus didn¡¯t waste a moment and quickly left without saying another word. Two minutes later, Zero received a new set of clothes. He stepped away to change into them, and when he returned, he was clad in a black cloak, black leather pants with boat, and a matching belt¡ªeverything concealed beneath the cloak. ¡°It¡¯s enchanted,¡± Augustus explained. ¡°it will keep you warm no matter the weather and It will help you blend into the darkness and shadows.¡± ¡°Feels great,¡± Zero said, clearly pleased with the outfit. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon Augustus cook dinner¡± Alana added. ¡°I¡¯m going to explore the house for a while.¡± As Zero sat down to read the Book of Deluxe, experimenting with his mana, he was left alone with his thoughts. Minutes later, Augustus returned with food, setting it down on the table. ¡°Mistress Alana, food is ready,¡± Augustus announced. Alana phased through the ceiling, landing gracefully in the room. ¡°Mm, times have really changed. Everything is advanced now,¡± she mused, her eyes scanning the room. ¡°This home is also very spacious, Augustus.¡± ¡°I am grateful, Mistress. I¡¯m glad you like it,¡± Augustus replied. Zero, who had put the book aside, looked up as Augustus set the plates down. He was intrigued, noticing Augustus using telekinesis to move the dishes, cutlery, napkins, and a teapot with two cups. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zero asked, his voice flat but with an intense focus as he watched the scene unfold. ¡°Oh, this? Ha-ha. It¡¯s called Telekinesis, but it¡¯s a rather weak version. With it, I can move light objects at a short range,¡± Augustus explained casually. ¡°Pretty useful, even at such a low level,¡± Zero remarked, still watching intently. Alana raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re a beginner mage?¡± she asked, scrutinizing Augustus with a critical gaze. ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Augustus replied, his voice apologetic. ¡°Sorry if this disappoints you, my lady. I can¡¯t do much with my soul quality.¡± ¡°A pathetic excuse,¡± Alana snapped. ¡°Soul quality doesn¡¯t matter. You can still train and improve. Even a low soul quality doesn¡¯t completely limit you. It may make it harder, but it¡¯s still 100% possible for someone with a weak soul to grow stronger.¡± Augustus trembled under Alana''s glare, realizing he had been exposed for his laziness. ¡°Pathetic...¡± she muttered, casting a dismissive glance at him. At that moment, the teapot, still suspended in the air, was suddenly yanked toward Zero as he raised his hand. Dark purple mana spiralled from his body, quickly overtaking the blue mana of Augustus. ¡°AH!¡± Augustus gasped as he was pushed back by the sheer power of Zero¡¯s magic. The teapot crackled with energy, now enveloped in dark mana. ¡°How did you understand it so fast? Are you some kind of hidden genius with comprehension?¡± Augustus asked, awe in his voice. ¡°I told you, I got it,¡± Zero replied coolly, pulling the teapot toward himself. ¡°Mine now.¡± The teapot remained intact, despite the force used to wrest control from Augustus. Not only did he comprehend it fast, but he also twisted it with necrotic power¡ªvery interesting, Alana thought, intrigued by Zero¡¯s abilities. ¡°What are you going to call it?¡± she asked, eyes narrowing. ¡°What?¡± Zero replied, his voice chillingly indifferent. ¡°The move, obviously,¡± she said, clearly irritated by his lack of response. ¡°Oh... right.¡± Zero thought for a moment, standing up with one foot on the chair and the other on the table. ¡°I¡¯ll call it ¡®Dark Telekinesis!¡¯¡± ¡°Generic,¡± Alana said, her expression disappointed. ¡°What? I thought it was perfect!¡± Zero said, his voice tinged with frustration. ¡°I agree with Mistress,¡± Augustus added, shaking his head. ¡°You just added ¡®dark¡¯ to telekinesis.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty boring,¡± Alana agreed. Zero, taken aback by his poor naming skills, pondered further. Then, an idea struck him. ¡°AH! This move will be called... ¡®Grave Pull,¡¯ aka Dark Telekinesis!¡± ¡°Better,¡± Augustus said with approval. Alana nodded in agreement. ¡°Back to the pressing matter.¡± Zero slowly sat down, focusing on the conversation ahead. Augustus did the same. ¡°Augustus, inform me and Zero of the current state of world affairs, especially after my reign. And explain to Zero how this world works,¡± Alana ordered. ¡°Uh... well, where do I start?¡± Augustus said, hesitant. ¡°Well, since you don¡¯t know, after your death, the whole world became peaceful. Races started to merge and mix with each other. There are no longer purely human settlements or orc villages. Everything is integrated now¡ªelves¡¯ forests are home to all kinds of races now. The result was the birth of five lands, each controlled by an empire, which consists of multiple factions holding a variety of ideals. These lands are classified by threat levels, which everyone is aware of. This rating is based on military might, the number of B-S rank individuals, and wealth. When a threat level reaches above A rank, it becomes a global superpower.¡± Augustus continued to explain the state of the world, his tone serious. ¡°Number one is Kam, a global superpower. They¡¯ve been preparing for war for years, training elite soldiers and developing mana-based weaponry. Their entire land is a stronghold, and their magical technology combined with military might makes them a force to be reckoned with.¡± ¡°Number two is Sornerois, known as the merchant heaven. Unlike other lands focused on war, Sornerois dominates through economy, politics, and espionage. They produce the best enchanters, traders, and mercenaries. They are a threat level of A, not quite a superpower.¡± ¡°Number three is Oreme, a land where only the righteous thrive. The strongest humanoid land, it boasts sword masters, paladins, divine mages, and archers. Their society is governed by the Seven Pillars of Order and the Inquisitors of the Divine Light, who hunt down heretics. This faction will definitely come after you, Zero, if they learn you are involved with Chaos as anybody or anything associated with chaos to them is seen as an abomination and must be destroyed there also rated SS rank there are bound to be your greatest enemy Zero. Zero, keeping a straight face, thought, Sounds fun. ¡°There¡¯s also Beasthome, rated SS rank. This is a land ruled by apex predators, not by humans or other two-legged races. I don¡¯t know much about them but I know that there their political system is unlike any other, and they are also a global superpower.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s Viscura, where we are now. It¡¯s a small, independent land known as The Last Peaceful Land. It¡¯s cut off from the world, with no political ties. Here, the people live in peace and freedom, and the threat level is B rated. Despite that, there are some powerful figures who live here. Alcon, the leader of Viscura, brought all these former adventurers and mercenaries together, and he¡¯s highly revered. However, don¡¯t attract too much attention here. There are a few old legends living among the people.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about what¡¯s going on in the rest of the world as Viscura is detached from everything so we littrally get no news but that works both ways if you know what am saying Zero¡± Augustus finished. Zero leaned forward. ¡°Yeah, that works in our favor,¡± he said confidently. Alana was deep in thought, murmuring softly, ¡°Yes¡­¡± Zero, paying no mind to her, spoke up again. ¡°Can you explain two more things?¡± ¡°Sure, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Augustus asked. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with soul qualities and ranks?¡± Augustus nodded and began explaining the soul system. Augustus nodded and began explaining the soul system. "Everyone is born with a distinct soul quality, and that quality determines their potential rank," Augustus started, his voice steady and informative. "It doesn¡¯t limit you, just gives an estimate of where you''re most likely to fall. Though it¡¯s possible to rise above your estimated rank, it¡¯s extremely difficult. The lowest is called a Fading Soul potential, which is E Rank. These are souls with little potential. They can¡¯t hold much mana and struggle to improve, often found among peasants, common folk, and expendable warriors." Zero listened intently, his usual detached expression never wavering. "Then we have the Lesser Soul potential, D Rank. These people have weak talent and slow growth, though they can improve with effort. But it¡¯s rare to see someone with this soul quality reach the highest ranks. These are typically foot soldiers and low-tier spellcasters." Augustus paused for a moment, ensuring Zero understood before moving on. "Next is the Stable Soul potential, C Rank. These are average individuals with a decent life expectancy and training potential. Most adventurers, knights, and regular mages would fall into this category." Zero''s eyes narrowed slightly as he listened closely, his mind processing the information. ¡°Then comes the Greater Soul potential, B Rank. These are individuals with natural talent, solid potential. You¡¯ll find them among elite soldiers, skilled mages, and mid-ranking powerhouses." Alana¡¯s voice chimed in. "You''d be in this category if you had a more standard soul quality," she added, teasing Zero lightly. Zero, however, remained focused on Augustus¡¯ explanation. ¡°After that, there¡¯s the Mythic Soul potential, A Rank. People born with this quality are prodigies. They have massive mana and experience rapid growth. They¡¯re often the strongest mages, warlords, or high-ranking combatants." Zero¡¯s expression darkened slightly as he thought about the implications of all this. "And the highest? S-Rank?" "Ah, yes, the Divine Soul potential, S Rank." Augustus smiled, clearly enjoying Zero''s curiosity. "This is a once-in-a-millennium talent. They have nearly limitless growth potential, found among saints, top-tier heroes, or legendary figures. They¡¯re the ones who change the course of history." Zero tapped his fingers on the table, mulling over this information. ¡°And... Abyssal Soul?¡± he asked, his tone casual but sharp. ¡°Ah, the Abyssal Soul...¡± Augustus¡¯ smile faded slightly as he seemed to reflect. ¡°There is no one in this era who has been born with an Abyssal Soul. It''s something... beyond even Divine Souls. The soul itself is so vast and overwhelming that it defies logic. No one really knows what it truly means.¡± Zero¡¯s interest piqued further. ¡°So... how does my soul rank?¡± Alana, who had been quiet until now, sighed and shook her head. "No idea. I''ve tried countless times to read your soul, Zero. But there¡¯s something... distorted about it. Every time I get close to the heart of it, it feels like something ejects me out." ¡°Distorted?¡± Zero raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How so?" "It¡¯s like there¡¯s a massive block in the depths of your soul," she explained. "I can''t get through it. It''s... unsettling. Something is blocking me from seeing it clearly." Zero leaned back in his chair, clearly unconcerned. "Mmmm. Whatever. Go on about the ranks, Augustus." ¡°Ah, right!¡± Augustus straightened himself, continuing enthusiastically. ¡°Ranks go from F to S. F being the lowest, terrible rank, and S being the highest, the ultimate. But really, it''s just a basic classification system. People with higher ranks can expect better opportunities in life. Those born with higher-ranked souls are naturally stronger, more capable of holding mana, and able to grow faster. But even someone with an E-Rank soul can still become strong through sheer effort. It¡¯s just harder.¡± Zero nodded slowly, absorbing the information. ¡°But¡ªwhat about Chaos magic?¡± Zero asked, his voice cutting through the conversation. ¡°Tell me about that.¡± As soon as Zero said the word "Chaos," Alana¡¯s eyes seemed to light up. She had been waiting for him to ask, though she hesitated slightly before answering. ¡°Chaos magic doesn¡¯t follow traditional laws like elemental magic or any other basic form of magic,¡± she began. ¡°It¡¯s the manipulation of entropy, disorder, and raw destruction. The principle behind Chaos is to bend the laws of reality¡ªto create and destroy, with an emphasis on unpredictability and change. What makes it so dangerous is that it doesn¡¯t behave consistently. It¡¯s wild, and that¡¯s why Chaos magicians tend to dominate in battles, especially in duels or one-on-one combat. It¡¯s incredibly hard to predict and counter.¡± Zero listened intently, his expression growing more serious with each word. ¡°And you want me to learn this...?¡± Zero asked, intrigued but wary. ¡°I want you to embrace it. It¡¯s not something that can be controlled easily, but you¡¯ll have to master it if you want to turn this world upside down, like I did,¡± Alana replied. Her eyes glinted with a mix of pride and a hint of madness. ¡°Chaos is the most powerful force at your disposal. It will allow you to reshape everything.¡± "Chaos..." Zero muttered to himself, tasting the word as if testing it on his tongue. "Interesting." Augustus spoke again, this time with a somber tone. ¡°But be warned, Chaos is forbidden and despised. Most of the world sees it as unnatural and dangerous. They fear it. Even I, with my low affinity, can barely use it.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Zero interrupted, eyeing Augustus. ¡°You can use Chaos magic?¡± ¡°I can,¡± Augustus said, a touch of bitterness creeping into his voice. ¡°But only in small amounts. I¡¯ve never been able to master it, not like you can.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s about affinity?¡± Zero asked, piecing things together. Alana nodded. ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s the same as elemental magic. Affinity determines how well you can use certain powers. For example, someone with a high fire affinity can become a fire mage, manipulating fire at will. Someone with a low affinity, though, would be limited. Same with Chaos but the catch is if you don¡¯t have affinity to it you can¡¯t use. Adding on I only had an mid-tier affinity towards it but with that I was able to make two weaker versions which I could use to the fullest extent one being Necromancy which is the act of raising the dead which you will be using and no matter affinity level you need to feel your affinity first to reach your full potential of it, then mastering is completely based on your affinity ¡°Feel?¡± zero asked bewildered Alana says reassuringly ¡°Don¡¯t worry you will understand when time comes either way you will need undead to fight and support you¡± ¡°How about the second? ¡° ¡°The second is called corruption but its not important nor do you need at this moment so until that time comes focus on necromancy and the other dark forbidden spells in that book. Which am sure you have already become acquainted with¡± she says knowingly. Zero gave a sharp nod. ¡°So where do I start? Alana smiled, sensing the shift in Zero¡¯s resolve ¡°well we need a village for you to raid first of all¡± Augustus spoke up at that moment, as if eager to provide a direction. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s a village I know of. near a junkyard I visited Arceus should know the way.¡± Alana happily said ¡°lets head outside¡° Zero¡¯s aura shifted to something distinctly malicious, though no one in the room noticed. He was already scheming, his next move cloaked in secrecy, but it was clear he was preparing for something far more than just the village raid. Then went outside Zero now stood, clad in his new gear. His book latched onto his side without a holder, and his staff clung to his back as if magnetized. As long as he emitted mana, they remained fixed in place. Arceus neighed wildly upon seeing Zero, thrashing as if sensing something was wrong. Augustus struggled to calm him, gripping the reins tightly. "Whoa, boy! Easy now¡ªit''s alright, he''s a friend!" Even as the horse stilled, his eyes never left Zero, steam flaring from his nostrils like a war beast on edge. Zero merely smirked, stepping onto the horse¡¯s back without a word. As Augustus climbed up, he barely had time to settle before Arceus bolted forward at full speed. "Arceus! Slow down¡ªI wasn''t even on properly yet!" Augustus protested, gripping the reins tighter. Zero placed his hands casually around Augustus¡¯s waist, but Arceus only ran faster. They rode through open fields, the ground breaking harder beneath Arceus¡¯s hooves than usual. Augustus frowned, sensing his mount¡¯s distress. ¡°Arceus, don¡¯t be stupid,¡± he muttered, tuning out the horse¡¯s panic. Now lost in thought, Augustus muttered under his breath, barely above a whisper. "Mistress Alana¡­ whether you''re listening or not, I''ve spent years trying to bring you back. And now that I finally have, I beg you¡ªgrant me power." A soft chuckle filled the air. Alana materialized beside him, floating effortlessly. She took one look at him and burst into laughter, pointing at Zero with a mocking smirk. "Oh, Augustus, that''s adorable." She wiped a nonexistent tear from her eye. "But I''m afraid that choice isn¡¯t mine anymore." She gestured dramatically toward Zero, her other hand covering her mouth as she giggled. "He''s the one with power now. Not me. Hohoho~" Augustus stiffened, his grip on the reins tightening. Zero, unfazed, spoke firmly. "We can talk about your desires later. First, we get there." A familiar voice echoed in Zero¡¯s mind¡ªAlana, now visible only to him. Even with your necromancer abilities and the few tricks you picked up from Augustus, you¡¯re still just one man. You¡¯ll need an army or at least a handful of strong summons to take down a village. You¡¯re a mage, a necromancer¡ªyou shouldn¡¯t be on the front lines. What¡¯s your plan? Zero grinned, his purple irises glowing ominously as an unsettling aura radiated from his body. I have an idea. Minutes later, Arceus neighed sharply¡ªa signal that they were close. The clouds overhead swelled, casting a shadow over the landscape. "We¡¯re almost there," Augustus said, pointing ahead. "Just beyond that forest." ¡°Stop for a moment.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°Just do it.¡± Augustus sighed. "Alright, alright. Arceus, hold up!" The horse skidded to a halt, its hooves digging deep tracks into the earth. As they dismounted, Augustus grabbed a water pouch from an unseen pocket inside his coat, taking a slow drink. Arceus stood tall, staring ahead with an almost regal presence. Zero, standing behind Augustus, remained silent. ¡°What is it?¡± Augustus asked, wiping his mouth. Zero¡¯s expression darkened. A malicious aura leaked from him as he slowly raised his hand. Augustus barely had time to react before he felt it¡ªan overwhelming wave of killing intent. Arceus sensed it first, rearing up with a furious neigh and lunging at Zero. But Zero moved effortlessly, sidestepping and releasing a bolt of withering mana point-blank into the beast¡¯s chest. The deep purple energy struck, and Arceus let out an agonized screech before collapsing to the ground. Augustus¡¯ eyes widened in horror. "WHAT¡ªARC¡ª!" He reached for his mana, preparing to strike¡ª But Zero¡¯s right hand flicked through the air. "Grave Pull." A sickening crack echoed as Augustus¡¯ arm twisted unnaturally, yanked out of its socket. "AAAAAGH!" He collapsed to his knees, clutching his useless limb, eyes filled with pain and disbelief. Zero loomed over him, grinning wider, his expression dripping with sadistic amusement. Augustus gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his face. ¡°You¡­ monster¡­¡± he spat. "Ah?" Zero leaned in closer, pressing his boot against Augustus¡¯ dislocated shoulder. "What was that? I couldn¡¯t hear you." Augustus trembled, his head bowed. ¡°¡­I said¡­ you¡¯re a monster¡­¡± Zero¡¯s grin widened. "Not loud enough! Haha!" "¡ªI SAID YOU¡¯RE A MONSTER!" Zero cackled. "Hahaha! I am the monster? And what about you? Were you not killing people for your so-called noble cause?" "You wouldn¡¯t understand, you delinquent! Alana is everyth¡ª¡± Zero¡¯s foot pressed harder, cutting him off with a sharp cry of pain. ¡°Either way, I don¡¯t care,¡± Zero said flatly. ¡°What I do care about¡­ are my needs and wants." His voice dropped, menacing. "And right now? You¡¯re nothing but useless fodder. Trash that¡¯s long overdue for recycling.¡± Augustus, head still lowered, swallowed hard. Zero knelt beside him, gripping his chin and forcing their gazes to meet. His eyes gleamed with twisted delight. "You do understand what I¡¯m saying, don¡¯t you?" Augustus clenched his jaw, rage boiling beneath his skin. Zero sneered. "Why the face? Didn¡¯t you say you wanted power? Am I wrong?" Augustus refused to answer, his entire body trembling with fury. Zero¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°Then become my soldier. Serve only me.¡± Augustus¡¯ grudge-filled glare met Zero¡¯s unfeeling, crazed smile. He spit blood in Zero¡¯s face. "Go to Order, you sick delinquent!" But the blood never touched him. A shadowy barrier flickered, disintegrating it before impact. Zero sighed in disappointment "A barrier? I didn¡¯t even show you that one yet." Augustus¡¯ eyes widened in realization. ¡°You¡­ you used it earlier¡­¡± zero says confidently Augustus only activated it for a second¡­ How did he master it so fast? Alana¡¯s voice echoed again. He¡¯s evolving. And fast. Zero shook his head. ¡°I tried to make this an easy conversation, but no¡ªyou had to make it difficult.¡± He stood, stepping away. Raising his right hand, a deep purple energy swirled at his fingertips. Augustus tensed, trying to move¡ª But his body refused to respond. "Wha¡­? My body¡­ I can¡¯t¡ª!" His vision blurred. "My mana¡­ where¡ª?!" Zero chuckled. "Oh, by the way. I¡¯ve been draining your soul this whole time." He rolled his shoulders lazily, the withering bolt still charging in his palm. "Since we got on the horse, I¡¯ve been siphoning it in tiny amounts¡ªso small, you never noticed. It was easy." He smirked, stretching one arm behind his head. Arceus was right. I¡¯m¡­ finished¡­ Augustus realized, a hollow acceptance settling over him. "Sorry¡­ my mistress¡­ Alana¡­ I am no longer¡­ worthy to be your servant." Zero fired. The necrotic energy consumed Augustus instantly, decaying flesh and cloth, leaving only a perfect skeleton behind. "He should¡¯ve listened to the horse," Alana commented, as she flew out of zeros chest surveying the scene from above Arceus, lifeless body bore a gaping hole through its chest besides agustus skeleton as zero used dark telekinesis them side by side on the grass Zero clapped his hands together. "Alright, time to bring them back." The Book of Delux floated from his side, pulsing with violet energy. ¡°Souls of the Abyss, heed my call. Rise, walk among the living once more¡­ and serve me eternally.¡± Mana swirled around Augustus¡¯ remains. His skeleton trembled, absorbing the energy. A black cloak of shadows coiled around him, his eye sockets igniting with eerie blue flames. "A mage skeleton still carries the weaknesses of a common bonewalker," Alana explained. "Undead mages can only use warlock magic, with some exceptions. Since he was previously an F-rank, he should still remember F-rank warlock spells. But you¡¯ll need to provide him a proper grimoire." Zero smirked. "Book of Deluxe, if you may." Nothing happened. Zero rolled his eyes and rephrased. "Give him a copy of warlock magic." The book glowed violet before splitting off a smaller, reddish tome, which floated toward Augustus. The skeleton rattled its jaw in what seemed like appreciation. No, before you ask," Alana interjected, "undead below B-rank can¡¯t talk. At earliest, it''s B-rank, at latest, A-rank." Zero nodded in understanding. Arceus awoke moments later¡ªnow a fully reinforced bone steed. His crimson-purple eyes burned, his black mane flowing wildly in the wind. Zero grinned as he gloried at this mighty steed Alana smirked. Show me what else you¡¯ve got, Zero. Zero leapt onto his new steed, laughing as Augustus followed suit on the back of the horse. "TO THE VILLAGE!" he roared, galloping into the darkness ahead.