Aeris walked with his hands buried deep in his pockets, the sky dimming into shades of evening. The desert winds brushed past him, dry and heavy. Around him stretched nothing but endless wasteland. There were hardly any trees, and no sign of people, homes, or civilization.
He stopped for a moment, gazing at the barren land with quiet satisfaction.
"This place is perfect," he murmured. "There's no one here. I don't have to worry about my cursed presence hurting anyone."
This was Baston City—if it could even be called a city anymore. From thousands of years, it had been thriving. Now, it was nothing more than a wasteland where countless wars between curseumen and spiritumen had been fought. Its ground remembered nothing but bloodshed, its soil as dry as bone.
Aeris lowered himself to the sand, sitting carelessly without worrying about dirtying his clothes. The silence pressed on him, forcing thoughts he had been avoiding.
"What should I do now?" His voice was quiet, almost swallowed by the wind. "I have power now… I even have a good face. But what's purpose of my life."
He tilted his head back, staring at the vast expanse of orange sky.
"All I ever wanted was peace. Just… to live quietly. But now I've been given this strange power. I can't ignore it. I have to learn more—about myself, about this ability."
For a long while, Aeris sat motionless. Finally, he lay down on the sand, his arms spread loosely to the side. The sun's rays fell on him, but he felt no discomfort, no heat. His body was no longer bound by such trivial limits.
"Let's see what I know so far," he muttered. "Whenever someone dies because of me, their memories, their physical strength, their abilities… maybe even their experiences, all come to me. But I don't know how to control it. I don't know how to switch abilities on or off. I don't even know what else this power can do."
He sat up, brushing sand from his arms, his eyes narrowing.
"There's only one way to find out. I'll have to kill again. I'll have to test this power on someone else. But I can't do it to humans. I won't. If I need to kill, it'll be in a dungeon. Monsters are the perfect prey."
His lips curled into a faint smile.
"Eluin Forest… yes. There are countless dungeons there, filled with spiritual beasts. If I want answers, I'll find them there. It'll take time to reach, but so what? I'm exhausted, but I can full my fuel tank there."
Stretching his limbs, Aeris felt his muscles coil with new strength. His body was itching for motion, for release.
"Then let's increase this power again."
In a single blink, his figure vanished from the desert. The air where he had stood rippled faintly, then stilled. He was already racing toward Eluin Forest, where the hunt would begin.
---
Meanwhile, in Yaeki City
Inside the medical grounds of Yaeki City, healers were still working tirelessly to save Yuki.
Luri sighed in irritation, her blue hair falling over her shoulders as she pressed her glowing hands over Yuki's body. "My hands are going numb! We've been healing this girl for an hour, and she still hasn't woken up. Is she even alive?"
Aoi, her red-haired sister, said nothing. Calm as ever, she continued channeling energy into Yuki, her face as expressionless as stone.
Noa, in white garments, frowned at Luri's complaints. "Focus. Her wounds aren't just physical—she's been harmed mentally. She could wake up at any moment. Stop whining, Luri. Aoi and I are here too. You're not special."
As they worked, Yuki's mind stirred in dreams.
*****
Yuki's Dream
In her vision, she was a small girl, no more than six or seven. Her hair was snowy white, her dress a simple frock. She ran down the massive steps of an opulent palace, her laughter carrying across the courtyard.
"Let me play outside!" she cried, her voice soft and sweet.
But the guard at the gate shook his head firmly. "Princess, we cannot let royalty go outside. You are still kid."
Her lips trembled, and she turned pleading eyes toward another guard leaning against the wall with a newspaper.
"Uncle, look! He won't let me out. Tell him to let me play, please!"
The man hesitated, then exchanged a glance with the first guard. With a reluctant sigh, he gestured for the gate to open.
"She'll be back soon enough. Master isn't here right now anyway. Let her go. She'll learn little by little."
Yuki's face brightened instantly. She darted out through the gates, giggling as her feet carried her toward freedom.
But time moved quickly. The sun sank lower, painting the palace walls in hues of red and gold.
A royal carrier, its beast draped in ornate armor, arrived at the palace entrance. Its surface gleamed with gold paint and gemstones.
"King Reck has returned!" one of the guards shouted, his voice cracking with both joy and dread.
The guards scrambled to open the carrier's door. One, trembling, whispered in fear to his superior, "Master is already here! But… Princess Yuki hasn't returned. If the King finds out—disaster will fall upon us all."
The carrier door opened, and King Reck stepped out, his face lit with a rare smile.
"Where's Zugi? I don't see him nearby."
A voice rang from behind as a man hurried forward. "I'm here, Master. Forgive me, I was… occupied."
Zugi was that guard who allowed Yuki to go outside.
"So occupied that you couldn't even greet me?" the King said lightly, though there was steel in his tone.
"No, Master, it's nothing like that!"
King Reck waved the matter aside. "Where's Yuki?"
Zugi kept silent, hoping the question would pass. But the King did not forget. As they entered the palace, he repeated, his voice calm but cold, "Zugi. Answer me."
The man lowered his head. "Master... actually..."
Another guard, one who despised Zugi, stepped forward, eager for revenge. "Master, the princess left the palace. Sir Zugi gave her permission."
The words barely left his mouth before his head rolled onto the floor. His body collapsed with a dull thud, not a single drop of blood spilling.
Gasps filled the hall.
King Reck's katana glowed with blue flames, its edge humming with power. The air grew suffocating. Every guard froze in terror, their bodies stiff. One wrong movement, and death would be instant.
"Zugi," the King said, his voice as sharp as his blade. "Is it true?"
"Yes, Master." Zugi bowed deeply, his voice steady with loyalty.
Meanwhile, far away, Yuki was playing hide & seek with children in a village. She pressed herself against a pole, hiding her face as she counted aloud.
"Ten… nine… eight… three… two… one! Ready or not, here I come!"
She peeked out eagerly—only to see the children's bodies lying in pools of blood, limbs severed, faces twisted in terror.
Her eyes widened, tears bursting forth. A scream tore from her throat.
Then a heavy hand landed on her shoulder.
She turned to see an armored man, taller and stronger than the guards she knew. His dark brown eyes were merciless, his katana dripping with fresh blood.
"I've executed them for their crimes," he said flatly. "Come. The King is calling for you."
In his mind, another thought stirred coldly.
When will I be able to cut like King Reck… without spilling a single drop of blood?
There was no regret in his eyes. No mercy.
Yuki stumbled back into the palace, escorted by the soldier. Her eyes darted across the hall, where corpses of guards lay everywhere, their heads separated from their bodies.
Among them… Zugi.
Her gaze snapped to the throne, where King Reck sat casually, sipping wine, his katana resting by his side.
"Father…" Yuki whispered, her tears falling freely.
The dream shattered.
Yuki's eyes flew open, breath ragged. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she gasped.
"Where… where is Aeris?!" she cried.
*****
Meanwhile, in Eluin Forest...
Far away, Aeris stood before a massive cave, its mouth dark and foreboding. Towering trees surrounded him, their branches whispering in the wind.
He tilted his head back, an evil smile spreading across his face.
"Let's begin the hunt."