Chapter 56
15 Years Ago (Flashback)
The golden rays of the sun filtered through the forest, casting a warm glow over the trees. Echoing through the woods was the sound of hysterical laughter—three young children stood together, their faces twisted with cruel amusement that didn't suit their age. Their gazes were locked onto a boy lying on the ground—Spailo, no older than six. His small body trembled like a drenched bird, his face bruised and battered. His wide eyes remained fixed on the ground, refusing to meet their mocking stares.
One of the bullies broke the laughter with a sneering voice:
"Did you see that?! He's so weak—it's pathetic!"
Another child chuckled, grinning maliciously:
"I want to kick him again!"
They didn't give Spailo a chance to catch his breath. One of them lunged forward, delivering a brutal kick to his face. Blood gushed from Spailo's nose as he curled up on his side, trembling even more. The laughter surrounding him felt inescapable, a haunting echo that clung to him like a ghost.
Eventually, the children began to leave, their fading laughter disappearing into the distance. Spailo remained motionless, as still as stone. His bruised face bore silent pain, a reflection of the fear that gripped his heart.
---
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the silver glow of the moon bathed the nation of Kaisima in a soft luminescence. Deep within the quiet forest, a simple wooden house stood, its golden lanterns casting a warm light against the darkness of the night.
Inside, Mother Salma sat in front of Spailo, carefully tending to his wounds. Her breath was unsteady with worry, her eyes scanning his face with concern. Her voice wavered as she asked:
"Spailo…? Why don't you fight back? They hurt you every day!"
Father Rashid entered the room, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Those kids again?!"
Mother Salma let out a sigh, still focused on treating Spailo's wounds:
"Yes! It happens every day—it's as if it's normal for them to attack him!"
Spailo remained silent for a moment before finally snapping in a childish outburst:
"I don't want to hurt anyone! I don't really hate them, and I don't like fighting!"
Without another word, he abruptly stood up and walked toward his room, leaving his parents staring after him in surprise.
His room was cloaked in darkness, the lanterns unlit. Only the soft glow of the moon seeped through the window, casting pale light into the quiet space.
---
The room contained three neatly arranged beds. On the first bed, a three-year-old Suero slept peacefully. On the second, a young girl, Kaso, sat, watching her older brother Spailo as he lay on his bed, frustration etched into his features. His back was turned to her, eyes fixed on the night sky outside the window.
With a voice filled with childlike curiosity, Kaso asked:
"Oi, Spailo! You look angry. Did those kids hit you again?"
He snapped at her, his gaze still locked on the window:
"SHUT UP!! Go back to sleep and mind your own business!"
She fell silent for a moment before quietly getting up. Taking small steps, she climbed onto his bed and lay beside him.
Spailo immediately noticed her presence and sat up in irritation:
"What are you doing here, you little pest?!"
She looked at him with innocent eyes, saying nothing. He let out a deep sigh, rubbing his forehead:
"Ugh... fine."
After a brief pause, she asked, her tone both naive and intrigued:
"Why don't you fight back?"
He stared at her for a moment before answering calmly:
"I just don't want to. I don't see a reason to fight them."
She scoffed with childish amusement:
"Idiot!"
His temper flared instantly:
"What did you just say, you brat?!"
But she remained firm, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation:
"They're attacking you! Isn't that enough of a reason?"
Silence hung in the air. Spailo turned his gaze toward Suero, who was still fast asleep. His voice softened:
"No… I'm not like Suero. Sometimes he's so stubborn that I think he's terrifying. He holds grudges—he never forgets when something happens to him. I'm not like that."
Kaso didn't respond, merely watching him in quiet understanding. The room gradually returned to its stillness, the faint chirping of insects outside filling the air. The silver moonlight bathed the room in a soft glow, wrapping them in its quiet embrace.
—
A New Morning in Kaisima
On a bright new morning in the country of Kaisima, the atmosphere was peaceful, with only the sounds of nature echoing in the background. In the kitchen, Mother Salma was preparing breakfast, stirring the food in the pot as steam rose. Suddenly, Father Rashid entered, dressed in his formal uniform.
Rashid adjusted his collar and said:
"I'm heading to work."
Salma turned to him, surprised, still stirring the spoon inside the pot:
"What?! You haven't had breakfast yet?"
Rashid glanced at his watch and replied:
"No, I'll have breakfast at the office today. I don't want to be late."
Salma smiled warmly and said:
"Alright, dear. Take care of yourself."
Rashid waved as he headed toward the door:
"Goodbye."
Before leaving, he paused for a moment, enjoying the sight of his children playing in front of the house. Their innocent laughter reached him like a sweet melody. Outside, Suero, Spailo, and Kaso were laughing and playing together.
Rashid smiled and called out loudly:
"HEY!"
The children stopped playing and looked at their father, their faces filled with surprise and childish joy. Suero shouted excitedly and ran toward him:
"Dad!"
Rashid knelt down, catching Suero as he jumped into his arms. Kaso and Spailo followed, running toward him, embracing him tightly.
Rashid smiled as he looked at his children and asked:
"What are you all up to so early in the morning?"
Spailo answered with childish enthusiasm:
"We're racing! Whoever reaches the finish point first wins!"
Rashid chuckled and patted Kaso on the head. Kaso pleaded:
"Dad, will you play with us?"
He gently ruffled her hair and said:
"I wish I could, but I'm in a hurry today."
Spailo, trying to act mature, smiled and said:
"That's okay, we appreciate your hard work, Dad."
Rashid playfully ruffled Spailo's hair before standing up:
"Take care of yourselves. I'll see you later."
He waved and walked away as Suero called out in his innocent voice:
"Goodbye, Dad!"
Spailo then turned to his siblings, his face full of excitement:
"Oii! Let's start the race now!"
Kaso hesitated and asked cautiously:
"Where is the finish line?"
Spailo smirked confidently and pointed toward a distant tree at the top of a hill:
"Over there! To that tree!"
Without giving them a chance to respond, he sprinted ahead, shouting teasingly:
"Catch me if you can!"
Suero, feeling frustrated, shouted and started running after him:
"STOP! We haven't started yet!"
Kaso hurried after them, but suddenly, she noticed something dangerous. Her face turned pale, and she shouted in alarm:
"SPAILO, STOP!!!"
Spailo opened his eyes just in time to see the edge of the hill right in front of him. He tried to stop, but the ground beneath his feet slipped, and he tumbled down the steep slope.
Suero and Kaso froze at the top of the hill, watching in shock and fear as Spailo rolled down, crashing into tree trunks one after another. Their breath hitched as they heard his pained cries.
At the bottom, Spailo's fall ended with his head hitting a rock. A sharp pain shot through his skull, and his vision blurred. A thin trail of blood trickled from his forehead, mixing with his hair. His body lay still at the foot of the hill, surrounded by the silence of the forest and the whispering wind.
—
Some Time Later...
At the base of the hill, Spailo slowly opened his eyes. His vision was hazy, and everything around him felt unfamiliar. Suddenly, he heard a small voice calling out with concern:
"Hey! You, boy... Are you okay?"
He looked at the girl with exhaustion and confusion, his mouth slightly open as if words were stuck inside him. Saliva dripped slowly from his lips as he struggled to comprehend what was happening. But the moment of silence didn't last long—an excruciating headache struck him, as if his skull was about to explode. He clutched his head with both hands and let out a scream of pain.
The girl took a step back, her wide eyes filled with shock and fear. She kept watching him, unable to understand what was happening. Spailo's cries echoed through the area as he tried to endure the overwhelming pain.
Suddenly, a calm yet firm voice spoke from behind the girl:
"NINA, STEP BACK."
The girl, Nina, turned to look at the newcomer, still unsure of what was going on. A man, Raizo, stepped forward with steady strides and gently held Spailo, who was still groaning in pain.
Raizo spoke in a soothing yet concerned voice:
"Calm down. Everything is alright. You're safe now."
Spailo continued screaming, but Raizo's words seemed to ease his tension little by little. His cries gradually weakened until they faded completely. His eyes fluttered shut as he lost consciousness once again in Raizo's arms.
Nina stood a few steps away, staring at them with an unreadable expression—a mixture of curiosity and fear. She didn't understand what was happening, but she couldn't bring herself to walk away.
Raizo turned to her, still carrying Spailo over his shoulder, and asked gently:
"Nina, are you alright?"
The girl remained silent, staring at him. But his warm smile and calm demeanor made her feel safe. He spoke again, reassuring her:
"Did that scare you? It's okay. I'm here."
He smiled softly, then reached out and held her small hand with care. With Spailo unconscious on his shoulder, he walked toward the forest, leading Nina along with him. The three of them disappeared into the trees, leaving the hill behind.
---
Later, as Night Fell
The moon rose high in the sky, bathed in a soft glow, its light pierced by the distant wails of police sirens that shattered the silence surrounding the family's home. Inside, Suero and Kaso sat side by side on two chairs, their faces pale, their expressions frozen in shock and fear.
On the other side of the room, Father Rashid spoke anxiously to one of the police officers, his voice laced with desperation.
"My son… he fell from the top of the hill!"
The officer attempted to calm him, speaking in a reassuring tone.
"Please remain calm, sir. The search team is on its way, and we will do everything we can to find him."
While Rashid spoke with the police, Mother Salma sat in her room by the window, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes were fixed on the sky as if pleading with it in silence, her hand clutching a handkerchief damp with sorrow.
Outside, Suero and Kaso watched the unfolding scene—flashing police lights, concerned faces, the restless atmosphere of fear. A deep sense of helplessness gripped them, as if time itself had frozen while they all awaited news of Spailo's fate.
---
The dense darkness of night blanketed the nation of Kaisima, while the glittering city lights reflected off the elegant façade of a luxury hotel. Inside one of its distinguished rooms, Spailo lay motionless on a pristine white bed, his face calm but eerily still.
Beside him sat Nina, a young girl with wide eyes, staring at him with childlike curiosity. Thoughts swirled in her mind as she observed him in silence:
"Who is this boy? Why was he screaming like that?"
She continued studying his features until, all of a sudden, Spailo's eyes snapped open, as if waking from a nightmare. His breathing was heavy, his gaze darting around the room in alarm, before locking onto Nina's. He quickly turned toward her and demanded:
"Where am I? What is this place?!"
Nina remained silent, her gaze unwavering. Then, a warm voice suddenly broke the stillness:
"Oh, you're awake."
Spailo's eyes lifted toward Raizo, who stood with a gentle smile. Raizo stepped forward, settling on the edge of the bed, his tone calm and composed:
"I don't know exactly what happened to you, but it seems you fell from the top of the hill."
Spailo stared at him in confusion before his expression turned firm.
"Yeah… I want to go home now."
Without hesitation, he rose and headed straight for the door. But before he could touch the handle, Raizo vanished from his spot like a phantom, reappearing in front of the door in an instant—his back against it, a strange smile playing on his lips. His voice dropped to a chilling whisper:
"I saved both of you. Is this how you repay me?"
Spailo took a hesitant step back, uncertainty creeping into his expression. His gaze flickered to Nina, who was watching the exchange in heavy silence, then back to Raizo, whose smile remained intact. His voice was unreadable as he spoke again:
"Did you really think I brought you here for nothing?"
Spailo's brows furrowed in suspicion:
"What are you talking about?"
Raizo let out a soft chuckle, his gaze piercing:
"YOU ARE My TOYS NOW."
Shock flashed across Spailo's face, quickly replaced by anger. Without warning, he lashed out with a sudden punch, small but forceful enough to make Raizo double over in pain, gasping softly.
A dangerous glint flickered in Raizo's eyes, and his voice darkened.
"YOU BASTARD…!"
With swift retaliation, he drove his foot into Spailo's stomach, sending him crashing into the wall with brutal force. Blood trickled from Spailo's lips, but despite the pain, he lifted his head, his anger still burning.
Raizo stepped forward slowly, his expression filled with contempt:
"Do you think I'm doing this because I want something from you? Or because I hate you? No… I'm just following orders."
Spailo, despite his wounds, sneered defiantly:
"Hate is nothing but an illusion! I don't believe in it. It's all just conflict and petty fights!"
Raizo's anger faded, his expression shifting as he sank to the floor, leaning against the wall. His tone changed—lower now, heavy with regret:
"Hate is real. And once the people of Kaisima learn the truth I'm about to tell you, they will become its embodiment… and you'll be the first among them."
His eyes flicked toward Nina:
"Come here."
Nina hesitated before stepping forward, sitting beside them. A long silence followed before Raizo finally spoke, his voice carrying the weight of distant memories:
"Years ago, my friends and I were just scientists. We worked on experiments and research assigned by the World Sages. Then, one day, they made a decision… They wanted us to enhance the human race—to create a force that could never be defeated."
Spailo's face tensed, struggling to process Raizo's words, while Nina listened with quiet caution.
Raizo continued, his voice filled with remorse:
"We began developing the antidote. When we tested it on animals, the results weren't what we expected. We thought its effect would be different on humans. We reported this to the Sages, and in response… they gathered with leaders of other nations and decided to use a weak country as their testing ground."
Spailo's voice wavered with concern as he cut in:
"Did it… work?"
A single tear slipped from Raizo's eye before he answered in a pained whisper:
"It didn't… The experiment turned every human injected with the antidote injection into mindless monster that devoured human flesh. It was a complete failure… And after that… One of us, Carla—the scientist who worked alongside us—she disappeared after getting married. I haven't heard from her since that day."
Silence hung between them before Nina finally broke it, her voice devoid of emotion:
"Who did you test it on?"
Raizo lowered his head, unable to meet their eyes. His tears fell to the ground as he choked out his answer:
"The test subjects… were the people of Kaisima… I mean, it was you."
Spailo froze as if struck by lightning, his body trembling as he staggered to his feet, his horror-stricken gaze fixed on Raizo:
"What did you say?! What have you done?!"
Raizo lifted his tear-streaked face, his voice hoarse with sorrow:
"Do you hate us now? But… didn't you say you don't believe in hate?"
Spailo's eyes burned with fury as he spat back:
"I'm telling my parents what you've done!"
He turned to leave, but Raizo seized his wrist, wiping his tears away with an abrupt motion. His voice turned cold, laced with threat:
"You're not going anywhere."
Spailo stared at him in shock:
"What do you mean?!"
Raizo's tone was devoid of emotion as he declared:
"I told you before… You're nothing but puppets in my hands now. You won't be able to do anything."
Spailo gritted his teeth, his anger barely contained as he growled:
"What are you going to do?!"
Suddenly, a group of soldiers burst into the room, shoving women, children, and men with their hands bound before them. The hostages collapsed onto their knees, weapons aimed at their heads. A woman among them screamed, trying to negotiate:
"At least… let my son go! Please!"
One of the soldiers responded with cruelty, shoving her forcefully to the ground.
"SILENCE! You're nothing but vermin that don't deserve to live."
Her body hit the floor, and she began sobbing quietly while the children and women trembled in fear. The door shut behind them, and the soldiers raised their weapons toward the hostages. A fearful silence took over the room, while Spailo stood frozen, paralyzed by terror.
Raizo finally broke the silence, his voice quiet yet chilling:
"I told you… The strong always follow the weak. We are servants of the World Sages, and soon, you will be as well—mere puppets, just like us. This is the inescapable truth."
The children cried as the women desperately tried to comfort them. Then, with an icy tone, Raizo added:
"Fear… is the only way to survive. If you want to stay alive, you must obey your fear."
Suddenly, from behind, Nina's voice erupted in burning rage:
"YOU BASTARD!"
But before she could finish her words, a gunshot rang out. A bullet from one of the soldiers' rifles pierced her skull. She collapsed lifelessly, her blood swiftly pooling around her small body, spreading until it touched Spailo's feet. He stood in shock, his eyes hollow, his breath ragged.
He whispered, barely audible:
"What… is happening?"
Raizo stepped closer, gazing at him with a deathly calm.
"You will now become our puppet. You are part of this fate… the fate of Kaisima, written since the dawn of time."
—
Suddenly, the soldiers opened fire. The gunshots roared like a raging storm, mercilessly piercing through the hostages' heads. The women screamed, but their voices were swiftly silenced. Blood flooded the entire room, and lifeless bodies piled up like broken dolls.
Spailo stood paralyzed, his body trembling, his eyes darting between the corpses. His chest heaved rapidly, as if the air itself had turned into poison filling his lungs.
Meanwhile, Raizo stood by the door with an eerie calm and said:
"You will be our puppet now. You will help us fulfill your fate… the fate that was destined from the very beginning."
One of the soldiers opened the door, and Raizo stepped out slowly, leaving Spailo alone in the midst of hell. The moonlight filtered through the window, casting a dim silver glow over the room, as if mocking the massacre that had just unfolded.
—
One year later (Continuation of the scene in the Clash of Sorcery arc)
Spailo was in the bathroom, cold water flowing over his small body, futilely trying to wash away the dark memories that burdened his soul. He finished his shower and opened the door with heavy steps, but what he saw outside froze him in place.
The little girl Itasha, her small body lying on the table like a broken doll, her crimson blood flowing from her body, quietly soaking the floor in a deadly silence. The sound of blood droplets hitting the tiles was like funeral drums in the stillness of the room.
Spailo's gaze was fixed on the corpse, his words faltering in his throat before he managed to whisper in a trembling voice, barely audible:
"Why... why is there so much blood? What happened to her?"
Raizo remained expressionless, his cold, piercing gaze locking onto the child like a hammer crashing down on a fragile soul. He responded in an icy monotone:
"This is the world, Spailo. Didn't I tell you? If you can't bear it, you can return to your little home."
Spailo froze, his small body trembling under the weight of this harsh reality. Raizo, however, showed no concern. He shifted his gaze back to the lifeless Itasha, his voice now carrying a gravity that seemed to encompass the entire room:
"The world is cruel. And no one can stop this chaos... except the devil."
His tone sharpened, a sinister edge cutting through the air as he continued, his words like an ominous declaration:
"I will create the Rizsius Organization... and I will begin the destruction. Are you ready, Spailo?"
The silence was oppressive. Spailo stood motionless, his eyes glued to Itasha's body, paralyzed by a blend of fear and shock. In that moment, the air grew unbearably heavy, as if time itself had halted.
Raizo broke the silence with his calm voice, but his words struck the child's heart like whips:
"We will recruit members to our organization, but when the day comes that we need to eliminate one of them... it will be you who does it."
Spailo looked at Raizo, his eyes filled with terror, but Raizo continued in a deep voice, as though his words were carved into stone:
"Our plans must never be revealed. If anyone ever asks you if you are betraying us, tell them: I have abandoned everyone. Because this... was your plan."
Raizo raised the bullet, which seemed to carry the weight of the entire universe. It gleamed with a strange flash, as if it held something indescribable.
Raizo spoke slowly, but his voice was filled with such depth that it weighed down the air in the room:
"From now on... you will become the bearer of the Unlimited technique. This bullet is no ordinary one, it holds the technique within it. It was through a hired killer that Itasha was killed, and the technique was preserved inside this bullet. Now... I will transfer it to you. You will become the new holder of this power."
Spailo felt as though the world was collapsing around him. His face turned pale, his small features drenched in fear. The air felt heavy, as though the room had suddenly sealed itself shut.
Spailo's eyes widened as he stared at Raizo, who raised the bullet with a steady hand, his gaze devoid of mercy. The child's lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a word.
In that moment, a silence descended, but it was a terrifying silence, like that of a graveyard. The scene felt more like a living nightmare, where the small child was cast into the heart of hell without warning.
---
Eight Years Later
In the stone castle with high walls, which was the Rizsius Organization, stood the young Spailo, now fifteen years old. His hand was buried in his pocket, and his eyes, filled with disdain, stared at a group of soldiers lined up before him in the sandy arena. It seemed that their presence only evoked mockery within him.
Suddenly, without any warning, the soldiers charged towards Spailo like a storm. Their heavy footsteps stirred the dust, and their eyes burned with anger. But Spailo didn't move, standing firm, watching them with disdain as if they were mere insignificant pawns.
Out of nowhere, a massive shard appeared, slicing through the air like a heavenly sword, cutting through the atmosphere with a terrifying sound. The shard surged forward at an unbelievable speed, decapitating the soldiers all at once. Their heads flew through the air with the wind, and their lifeless bodies fell onto the sand like dolls that had lost their strings.
Only one soldier remained standing, trembling, his eyes wide with terror, staring at the catastrophe that had unfolded before him. He didn't have time to process the situation before Spailo appeared before him like a ghost—fast and silent. The soldier stood frozen in place while Spailo smiled a terrifying smile, his blood-soaked hands reaching towards the soldier's chest.
In a fleeting moment, Spailo's hand pierced the man's chest and pulled out his still-beating heart. Blood gushed from the soldier's chest, splattering into the air like a dark fountain. The heart, still weakly pulsating in Spailo's hands, was a horrifying sight, and the soldier couldn't even scream as blood poured from his mouth before his heavy body collapsed onto the sand.
Spailo looked at the heart in his hand with disdain, then tossed it onto the ground, muttering in boredom:
"MY GOD! Abunch of scum."
Spailo raised his gaze toward Raizo, who was watching the scene with clear sarcasm. With a smile full of challenge, Spailo said:
"Master Raizo! Won't you give me a man who can actually challenge me?!"
Raizo laughed deeply, then replied sarcastically:
"I've killed all the strong men easily! It's clear you've become strong enough... which is why the containment plan will work smoothly."
Spailo's expression suddenly turned serious and calm. He placed his hands in his pockets and began walking toward the stone castle, completely ignoring Raizo, before disappearing silently inside.
---
Present Day (Six Years Later)
Sbyam Brius descended from the sky with ease, as though the earth had summoned him. His face was completely devoid of any emotion, as if the winds caressing the place had carried everything away. In front of him, only a few steps away, stood Spailo, his body scorched, blood flowing from his cracked skin, every movement of his a challenge to logic itself.
The two stood, one representing the past and the other representing the present. In a quiet voice as though asking the universe itself, Sbyam spoke:
"Is this the end?"
Despite the evident pain, Spailo laughed bitterly, as blood dripped from his burned skin like rain. He responded sarcastically:
"Clearly, it is!"
Sbyam's expression was a mix of sorrow and calm. He cast a glance at his former pupil, then spoke in a low voice:
"I would have asked you why you left the Sorcerers' Organization, but... that no longer matters."
Spailo remained silent, his eyes fixed on his master, his burned eyes staring back. Sbyam continued:
"The important thing now... what are your motivations? Why on earth did you do all of this?"
Spailo's head slowly lowered to the ground, a warm smile etched on his scorched face. With a voice full of regret, he spoke:
"I believed that hatred was nothing but an illusion. I thought all problems could be solved, but I was wrong... terribly wrong."
Sbyam remained silent as Spailo continued, as if every word drained the last of his soul:
"Since I fell from the hill, my life changed completely. I learned our truth, and the truth of the world. I wanted to destroy my homeland with my power... to prove that there is no hatred, only misunderstanding. But I was a fool."
Sbyam's voice rose with anger, as though the words had ignited something inside him:
"What are you babbling about?! You and Brylo… you've become a constant annoyance!"
But Spailo didn't raise his head. He stared at the ground, then with a voice heavy with sorrow, he continued:
"I killed my mother, so my family would hate me too. Now... I've killed my entire family, and all that's left is Suero."
A silence followed, then Spailo broke it by vomiting blood onto the ground. In a broken voice, he continued:
"Humanity will never end its conflicts unless it faces a single powerful enemy. But who will that enemy be? No one can bear this world!"
Finally, Spailo lifted his head, his eyes glowing with regret. In a warm tone, as if his final words were his salvation, he said:
"I know I will be held accountable for everything in the afterlife... but I just wanted to write our fate in a less atrocity way; because we are not their match."
Then he began to stagger, his weary body no longer able to endure. He fell to the ground like a doll that had lost its strings, and blood filled the earth around him. In a barely audible voice, he said:
"GOODBYE, YOU MISERABLE WORLD..."
He slowly closed his eyes, as the wind carried his last words away.
---
Sbyam stood in place, staring at the body of his former pupil. In a quiet voice, as though uttering final words of farewell, he said:
"GOODBYE, SPAILO..."
End of Chapter.