The weight of the Artifact pressed into my palm while my fingers locked around the hilt of the blade. That suit of armor? It dragged on my shoulders like stone, pulling me lower with each step. Breathing turned sharp, fire behind every inhale, muscles shrieking as if torn apart. Strength was gone - nothing left but frayed nerves and shaky bones.
Then they appeared.
Out of the dark came twelve shapes, closing in around where I stood. Cold focus filled their stares, watching every move as if waiting for a misstep.
A figure moved ahead, slicing through the quiet tension. Could your name be Sknasim Jhawar?
My fingers clenched harder around the Artifact, its odd power thumping in my hand. Heat rose inside me, pushing past the ache for a second. Words came out harsh - "Never say my name again." There was no trust left. Each person here had turned away. The whole world broken because of them
Looking at them one by one, I waited for some hint of guilt. Not a trace showed up.
"The world saw you twelve as heroes," I continued, my words dripping with venom. "People believed in you. Trusted you. Looked up to you. And what did you do? You threw it all away. You betrayed us. You betrayed everyone. All for what? Power? Look what your greed has driven you to do!"
A woman from the group stepped forward, her expression sharp and impatient. "Enough talk," she snapped. "Hand over the Artifact. Now. We're being civil with you don't mistake that for weakness. We can kill you."
Down below, there in my grip, sat the Artifact. Nothing like it had crossed my path before - detailed carvings, old beyond reckoning, humming with a presence heavy in wonder and dread. Then again, my eyes found their way to those twelve standing still ahead. That silence between us stretched longer than expected.
"This Artifact," I said slowly, my mind racing. "You turned against the entire world for this? What does it even do? What kind of power could possibly be worth all the destruction you've caused? What could drive you to fight the whole world?"
Kevin - that name came back to me - moved forward once more. Calm, his words landed without rush. Not seeking control, he said. Their aim? To pull their leader out of a different world
Midway through speaking, a firm grip hit his shoulder without warning.
A deep, cold voice cut through the air like a blade. "Kevin. You talk too much. Perhaps I should sew that mouth of yours shut."
A hush came over Kevin, voice caught mid-breath.
A shiver ran down my spine when he looked over. Not a word, just that stare - sharp, unblinking, as if measuring every move I'd ever made. Coldness clung to his voice like frost on glass. He didn't need to shout; silence did the work.
"Mr. Jhawar," he began, his tone measured and deliberate. "Your full name is Sknasim Jhawar. You're twenty-one years old. Level 99. Your profession is Holy Knight." He paused, letting each word sink in like a blade. "Your parents... they died in a car accident. You also have an adopted sister Trita Jhawar. She's twenty years old."
Tension locked my teeth. Where had he learned such details?
He continued, his voice never wavering. "Your life was going well before all this, wasn't it? But then, two years ago, something happened. Something that changed the entire world. Every human on the planet received a floating window screen - an invitation to join a game. Some people refused. Some accepted. And within days, the whole world transformed, Mr. Jhawar."
My fingers pressed harder around the hilt, then the strange object. Not warmth in his voice, just steady words like pages turning one by one. Still, it sank in - the truth behind what he said. The air felt heavier after.
That moment from two years past flashed into my thoughts.
Last time around, we walked without these strengths. Back then, it simply wasn't there.
That moment stuck in my mind - when things shifted. Life moved along, ordinary, until without warning a see-through screen floated into view, hanging there as if pulled from a storybook dream.
Got a message. It says you can play OmniWars now. Want in? That choice is yours
A voice spoke to each of us at once. Not one soul missed it. From children in villages to elders in cities, the message arrived without warning. Light formed words in midair, steady and silent. Rich or not, young or old - none were left out.
It didn't seem real to some - just a glitch in their minds. Fear gripped others, hands frozen above the screen. Yet plenty still clicked "Accept," pulled by something restless inside: wonder, emptiness, maybe just too much time.
It happened to me too.
Right then, the instant agreement took hold, things changed. Drawn into a different realm - one named OmniWars - it opened around me. Huge, risky, incredibly lifelike. Monsters to face, missions to finish, skills to grow, powers to earn, trades to uncover. Life slipped into what playing a video game might be.
Here's what matters - leaving was always an option. Returning to the real world waited on your choice. Each time you stepped out, those abilities came along too.
This is where everything began to unravel.
Seasons shaped OmniWars, each splitting into chapters. Power climbed with every step forward taken by players. Back in reality, gifted with unearthly skills, unrest followed close behind.
One moment, rules held no weight at all. Out of jail walked offenders who'd gained strange abilities. Power grabs erupted when ambitious figures seized control. Everything fell apart - overnight, none of it stood.
That was followed by a second season.
It was then that everything went wrong. Not long after, the lines between gameplay and life blurred completely. Without warning, entry screens vanished - no more logging in required. What followed shocked everyone: creatures from OmniWars roamed downtown areas. Towns filled with characters who once lived only inside servers. Places meant for quests now sat right where sidewalks used to be.
Those who turned down the first offer began showing powers as well. Nobody could explain it, yet it made no difference - outcomes stayed unchanged. Greater strength emerged. Unrest grew louder. Ruin spread further.
Things got worse fast. Fights turned into full wars. Survival favored the toughest, not the fairest. Leaders lost control completely. Right and wrong stopped mattering to most. Each person looked out on their own.
What about me? Just like everything else, my existence fell apart too.
Breath caught sharp when old moments crashed in, fierce like fire.
My sister.
Me and Trita - tight once. Love ran deep, deeper than words catch. Family ties, duty tugged at my bones. Trust? Built solid, or so I believed. Then came him. A man with phrases that glittered, empty but loud. Her gaze shifted, cold slow. One morning, gone without scraping the plate clean.
My childhood friend
That moment stayed frozen. Years of hoping, all at once collapsing. A quiet guess inside me whispered she might care too. Not true. Her heart belonged elsewhere. The truth hit like a slammed door. Here's what cut deepest. It wasn't a refusal. That visit had one purpose - ending me.
This - right now - is what hits hardest
That man my sister started seeing? Turns out he's the one my old friend never stopped thinking about.
One was just a mirror of the other.
One dated him while the other did too. Simultaneously. Both were aware. Fully informed that he was using them, yet it didn't matter. Him instead of me. Instead of every moment we'd shared.
My closest friend showed up that night. After Trita, no one meant more to me. Yet his reason wasn't duty, nor rage. It was cash. A stranger offered him coins to end my life - he accepted before the offer even settled. That silence hurt worse than steel.
This game - this rotten, wretched thing - ripped the world apart. It wasn't enough to ruin everything; it left nothing standing.
Everything human was wiped out by it.
What came out was different than expected. Beneath the surface, motives shifted without warning. Power changed hands through quiet lies. Love turned sharp when tested. Money spoke louder than promises ever could. Cruelty showed itself slowly, then all at once.
My eyes snapped open, dragging my mind into now. He stood there, his words sharp like ice, staring, holding still.
Breath came fast, uneven. Every beat of the chest felt heavy. All at once - the tiredness, the sting of being let down, the fury - it settled in, thick as water filling a room.
Yet there I remained on my feet.
Even so, the Artifact remained in my possession.
Thoughts pulled me under, deep into old wounds, into what slipped away - then came that thick, icy voice breaking the quiet once more.
"What are you thinking about, Mr. Jhawar?" the man asked, his tone almost mocking. "Your life, perhaps? Wondering how badly fate screwed you over?"
My head snapped up, rage flaring hot in my chest. "What I'm thinking is none of your business!" I shouted, my voice raw. "And who the hell are you people to lecture me? You betrayed the entire world!"
The man let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Oh, shut up already," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You keep whining about betrayal. 'You betrayed the world, you betrayed the world.' So what if I did? What are you going to do about it?"
My grip tightened on my sword, knuckles white. "I'm going to kill all twelve of you," I said, my voice shaking with fury. "I'll save this world from people like you even if it's the last thing I do."
He laughed a cold, cutting sound. "You think I'm weak? That I'll be easy to take down?" He shook his head slowly. "I'm far stronger than you, Mr. Jhawar. You're sitting at level 99. I've already surpassed level 100."
Fear gripped me suddenly.
From somewhere at his back, he pulled out a pair of blades - one glowing like flame, the other swallowing light like smoke. With silence between us, he faced away, speaking toward the group of eleven that stood still behind him.
"I'll handle this one myself," he said calmly. "No one interferes during our fight. Understood?"
Got it, they said together, moving away into the dark.
He turned back to face me, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself. You probably already know who I am, but let me make it official." He tilted his head, eyes gleaming. "My name is Blaze."
Staring at his daggers felt unavoidable. Power poured off them, thick in the air like a weight pressing against my spine. That energy - dark, heavy - slid under my skin without asking.
Blaze noticed. His smirk widened. "Ah, admiring my weapons, are we?" He held them up, letting the firelight dance across the blades. "These beauties are Omniril rank weapons. That's a tier above Mythic rank."
Everything spun. Higher than Mythic?
Funny thing - turns out I recalled that old message from the Soul Association. Supposedly, they'd tossed around the idea of a level past Mythic. Not definite though. More like a maybe. Nobody ever stepped forward to say it was real.
What made him speak with such sureness?
Might be pretending, I figured. Probably is.
Blaze's teasing voice interrupted my thoughts. "You think way too much, Mr. Jhawar. All that overthinking is going to give you a headache." He grinned wider. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll keep things simple for you."
"Sweetheart?!" I exploded, my face flushing with anger. "Don't you dare talk to me like that! Shut your mouth!"
Loud laughter spilled out of Blaze, his grin widening without warning. He was right there in the moment, caught up in something only he seemed to fully get.
Fingers clenched around the hilt, pressure building in my palms. Every muscle burned like it had been dragged through stone. Still, stepping away wasn't an option - too much already lost. Breathing sharp, uneven, yet forward motion remained. Nowhere left to go but straight ahead.
"You wanted a fight," I said through gritted teeth. "Fine. I'm ready."
Up went my sword as I yelled, Holy Release!
Flooded suddenly with gold, light burst from the edge of my blade. Bright as fire poured through glass, it spilled across every surface nearby. The metal shone now - not just bright but alive - like suns trapped inside steel. Color drained into ivory strands above my shoulders, each thread moving softly on its own rhythm. From within my gaze came that same fierce glow, steady and unblinking.
A wild shift ran deep, energy burning bright in my blood - sight grew clear, sound snapped into place, hurt began to fade.
Blaze let out an appreciative whistle. "Now that's impressive," he said, his tone genuinely admiring. "Holy Release a signature ability of the Righteous Path Professions. Not many people can walk that path, you know. It's incredibly rare."
One dagger spun slow between his fingers. Because he didn't feel like keeping secrets today, he explained how it worked. Holy Release ranks among the myths - rare, powerful. Pure holy force flows through whoever uses it. Strength and thought sharpen for a short time after activation. Something toxic turns useful here. Energy moves through you whenever needed. Using it alongside sacred powers makes numbers climb further still
He paused, his grin widening. "I've fought a lot of Righteous Path users in my time, Mr. Jhawar. Killed most of them, honestly. But I have to say - you're something special. Unique, even. I admire you for making it this far."
Still silent, my eyes locked onto his. A pause stretched out, heavy with unspoken words.
Fingers curled around the hilts, Blaze let his face harden slightly, a quiet shift beneath the lingering spark of delight in his gaze.
Venom loose! came his shout.
A slow throb of deep red light moved under his skin, tracing paths like fire just below the surface. From somewhere within, his gaze shifted - now a burning shade of blood, lit from inside by something harsh.
He rolled his shoulders, looking completely relaxed. "Venom Release," he explained casually, "is an Omniril-rank ability. It makes me completely immune to poison. Any toxin you hit me with? It'll just heal me instead." He grinned wickedly. "I can also sense poison in anyone around me - what kind, how much, where it's concentrated. And all my poison-based abilities get a massive temporary boost."
I frowned. "Why are you telling me all this?"
Blaze shrugged. "Because I want this fight to be fair, sweetheart. You know my abilities now. I know yours. We're even."
My teeth pressed together hard. Okay then. We begin now
Blaze's grin stretched even wider. "Oh, I love the enthusiasm! Alright, Mr. Jhawar - come at me. Show me what you've got."
But I hesitated.
Shaking all over. Heavy legs dragged behind me, each step harder than before. Worn out, hurt, staying upright by sheer will alone. One arm carried the Artifact, the other gripped the sword - both too much to carry.
Can I Really Do This?
Right away, Blaze saw it. A wide smirk spread across his face instead of a smile. Ohhh, now what's going on here, he asked, sounding fake worried. You feeling nervous, Mr. Jhawar, he went on. Big tough Holy Knight suddenly doubting himself
I didn't answer.
"Come on, don't tell me you're chickening out now," Blaze continued, his tone playful. "You were all fired up a second ago! What happened? Did you suddenly realize you're way out of your league?"
Fingers curled hard on the hilt. The grip grew firm without thinking.
"You know what?" Blaze said, laughing. "I get it. You're tired. You're hurt. You've been through a lot. Maybe you should just hand over the Artifact and take a nice long nap. I promise I'll tuck you in real nice."
Fine, stay quiet, I whispered.
"Oh, wait - I know what it is!" Blaze snapped his fingers dramatically. "You're thinking about your sister, aren't you? And your childhood friend? The ones who stabbed you in the back?" He tilted his head, grinning. "Man, that must sting. Getting betrayed by the people you loved most. I'd probably give up too if I were you."
"Shut up!"
"Seriously though," Blaze went on, completely unbothered, "how does it feel knowing they both picked the same guy over you? Like, what are the odds, right? That's gotta be embarrassing."
A weight broke loose within. It just gave way.
"STOP!" I shouted, the sound bouncing off the ground and flying through the air.
Blaze's grin widened. "There we go. Now you're ready."
I charged.
Faster than thought, my body drove ahead, every ounce of strength funneled into that strike.
Yet Blaze moved aside without effort, almost like he'd known it would happen long before.
The fight erupted.
Faster than thought, he was already there. His form blurred until the steel crashed into me. That hit cracked straight through protection meant to hold. Splinters of defense skittered off in every direction. Cold metal kissed flesh just as breath left my lungs. A step back came unbalanced, shaky on uneven earth.
A sudden burst of fire tore across my chest, fierce and biting.
Tension bit through me, eyes locking ahead. Into the band on my finger went the object, space opening in my palm. Both palms tightened around the hilt, breath slowing just before movement began. Straight toward him I moved, ground firm under each step.
Blaze yawned. "Finally getting serious? Took you long enough."
Faster than thought, his hand moved first. Out shot the dark blade, twisting midair like something alive - aiming straight at me.
Spinning fast, I barely missed it. My head jerked sideways as steel hummed close.
Footsteps pounded as I lunged ahead, blade cutting sideways toward his throat.
Lazily, Blaze slipped under it, as if stepping around a tree limb in his way. Sweetheart, good effort - he almost caught wind of that one
Turning fast, I swung harder than before. Not just air broke apart - light burst out, rushing at him like sound made visible. That flash came roaring, bright as dawn cracking open.
"Sacred Severance!"
Blaze's eyes flickered with interest. "Ooh, Sacred Severance!" he said, impressed. "Now we're talking! That's a classic Holy Knight move. Good choice."
A sudden jump saved him - the blast tore past, missing by inches. Where his feet had been, soil blackened, ripped open like burnt paper.
"But here's the thing, Mr. Jhawar," Blaze continued, landing gracefully and brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder. "I've fought so many Holy Knights. Like, seriously, so many. You guys all use the same moves. It's like you went to the same boring-ass training camp."
Tension built in my face. Where did he learn every move I can make?
Blaze grinned, reading my expression. "Don't worry, I'm not psychic or anything. I just know Holy Knight abilities really well. You're using the standard toolkit - nothing I haven't seen a hundred times before."
Still silent, my next move was a strike. That moment, words had no place.
And again.
And again.
Still, nothing worked. Fast steps, sharp hits - Blaze slipped past each one. His body bent like a stream, smooth and impossible to catch. My lungs burned. Sweat cut across my cheeks. Every part of me shouted to stop.
Still, Blaze moved as if just wandering through green grass under open sky.
"Man, you're really working up a sweat there, huh?" Blaze said, smirking. "You okay? Need a water break? Maybe a granola bar?"
"Be quiet!" I shouted, slashing through the air.
Down he went. "Hmm, sensitive."
A cold grip tightened in my chest. Any chance would do, just something to break the stillness.
A thought appeared out of nowhere.
A flash erupted when I lifted my hand - bright enough to burn shadows into stone. My palm met the air just inches from Blaze's eyes, pouring out heat and glow like molten glass poured across stone.
"Radiant Flare!"
The light exploded.
Backpedaling fast, Blaze swore under his breath. His hands flew to his face - light burned through his eyelids. For a second, he saw nothing but white.
Now's my chance!
Not one moment slipped away. Out of the dirt, sharp metal spires rose fast, aimed straight at his chest without warning.
Stumbling forward, Blaze missed a few hits though something felt wrong - his steps too slow, awkward. Vision blurred, he moved blind.
"Nice trick, Mr. Jhawar!" Blaze called out, his voice still annoyingly cheerful. "Temporarily blinding me? Very creative! Too bad my other senses work just fine."
My eyes raced across the war zone. Everywhere lay pieces of what used to stand - crumbled walls, cracked rock, slabs split apart. Just right.
A few pebbles came up from the dirt under my fingers. Spikes of hardened light sprang from each one as holy power surged through them. These jagged bits flew toward Blaze, fast as gunfire.
This moment, his reflexes lagged behind. A few impacts hit his cheekbone, breaking skin. Blood, red and warm, began sliding along his jawline.
A wave of pleasure hit me. Satisfaction rose without warning.
Blaze touched his cheek, feeling the blood. He grinned. "Ooh, you got me! First hit of the match. Congrats, buddy. You want a trophy?"
Something caught my eye instead - a huge rock near me, about as big as a vehicle. This one needed sharp points, so I drove metal stakes into its sides until it looked dangerous. Power from within surged up, wrapping around the stone. It flew through the air, aimed straight at him, pushed by sheer force.
A split second before impact, Blaze darted sideways. The massive rock slammed down right behind him, shaking the earth under a thunderous crash.
A chunk of stone caught my eye next. This one got heaved hard after a quick spike. It flew without warning.
He dodged again. "You know, throwing rocks is like... what cavemen did. Are we regressing as a species here?"
Midway through his lapse, my form blinked into place at his back, blade lifted overhead.
"Sacred Severance!"
Something hit my shoulder hard, just as I started to lower the blade
A sharp pain tore into my body, sudden and fierce. My eyes dropped to find a dark blade stuck in my skin, thick red blood rushing out.
Back into Blaze's palm it came… then onward once more, tossed aside his gaze.
Back I staggered, breath caught. The world swam before my eyes.
That was when my tongue touched the flavor.
Blood
Warm copper flooded my tongue. Coughing pushed fresh red out through my mouth.
Poison.
Thoughts sprinted. That trick called Holy Release should change poison into something that fixes you. Still nothing happens. What is going wrong?
That's when I saw it clearly.
Two different toxins had made their way into my body.
Slowly, one crept through, eating at my core - each breath heavier, every muscle weaker, hope slipping away like sand.
One moved quickly - not worse by itself, yet just as lethal. Still.
With two present, my Holy Release failed to handle both at once. It faltered under opposing poisons, stretched beyond its limit. One after another, the strain built until it could do nothing.
Red drops came out when I coughed. The taste filled my mouth again.
I'm dying.
It came out of nowhere, that moment when I finally understood.
Fighting any longer would leave me lifeless before long.
Blaze tilted his head, watching me with mock concern. "Uh oh. You're coughing up blood like a tuberculosis patient. That's not good, man. You okay?"
Fingers dragged across my mouth, clearing the red. My eyes stayed locked on his face.
"You thought you could beat me with cheap tricks?" Blaze said, laughing. "Come on, Mr. Jhawar. I thought you were supposed to be strong. But honestly? You're kinda disappointing."
Fury rose up, deep in my chest.
"Don't get cocky," I spat, my voice hoarse. "This 'weak' person is about to show you what real power looks like."
Fingers stiffened as darkness pressed behind my eyelids. Breathing slowed while thoughts sharpened into silence. Energy drained, yet something held firm beneath the strain.
Then I screamed.
"Celestial Avatar Mantle!"
A sudden burst of gold light shot out from me - huge, intense, sacred. Around my form it twisted, wild as thunder, alive with force that snapped through the air.
A shift ran through the metal. Broken shards pulled together, swapping out for smooth plates of gold that wrapped around my body like a second skin. This went beyond protection - it carried light, something ancient humming beneath its glow.
Out of nowhere, extra limbs pushed through my skin - two more arms sprouting sideways, plated head to toe in that same gleaming gold. Now there were four. Taller too, stretching upward like something waking up. Space bent around me, energy humming under the surface. Speed came next. Strength followed close behind. Nothing before had matched this force.
Blaze's eyes widened.
A flicker of real shock crossed his face, something unseen since the conflict started.
"What the hell...?" he muttered.
Before he could move, I was already gone.
One breath later, space vanished where we stood.
Just a blink passed when my hand hit Blaze right in the gut.
CRACK.
From nowhere, a sharp crack split the air. My punch bent him like paper, hurling him off his feet. Down he went, rolling hard through dust and gravel.
Red liquid came out of his lips.
A sharp cough ripped through him, breath gone, hands tight on his belly. Hurt showed in his face - real, raw, nothing faked.
But he was laughing. "Okay, okay! Now we're having fun!"
I didn't stop.
A shape stepped into view once more, limbs working without delay. One pair caught his shoulders fast, holding firm. The rest began their motion, steady and sharp.
Fists driving forward, again and then once more, striking deep into his body without pause. Every hit cracked hard against flesh and ribs, unyielding in its path. Blurs of motion cut through air, one strike overlapping the next, falling heavy as if shaped by something older than anger.
Every hit slammed into Blaze's arms like a truck hitting a wall. The strength in those blows didn't care about blocking. His bones groaned, close to snapping. Fluid ran down his face - mouth split open, nose gushing, tears jolted loose by impact. Pain came fast, thick, without pause. He stayed upright, somehow.
"THIS is the power of the weak!" I roared between strikes. "How's your arrogance doing now, Blaze?! Huh?! Where's all that confidence?!"
"Still here, buddy!" Blaze wheezed, grinning through bloodied teeth. "Just... cough... taking notes!"
My laughter burst out - raw, free, full of win.
"The great Blaze, the so-called 'Symbol of Hope,' getting his ass kicked! What would people say if they saw you now?!"
But then
A force hit my back without warning.
It started as a faint sensation. My body hardly noticed because the gold plating took the hit instead.
This time, it showed up once more.
This moment, a sharp strike broke past the shield, burying itself in my spine. A sudden breach cut through protection meant to hold.
I screamed.
Fever burned sharp, cutting deep without warning. Every breath pulled tighter than the last.
Out came Blaze, then I staggered sideways, breathless.
Spinning back, a chill hit deep inside me.
A shape, dark as midnight, loomed just past my shoulder - no features, only a presence that hummed with quiet threat. It didn't move, yet it pressed close like cold air before a storm.
Forward it came, closing the space between us.
Fists clenched, I lunged forward, power pouring into the strike. That moment, every ounce of strength drove through my arm.
My fist connected
Then it was gone, fading as though carried off by wind.
What the hell?!
A sudden hit came from the back before there was time to move.
Turning fast, I saw it. Out of thin air, the dark shape appeared.
The second hit landed harder. It gave nothing back.
It disappeared again.
Hold on - what even is that?
Thoughts sprinted ahead. Figuring out this power became necessary.
A flash of insight sparked as I turned on Spectrus. This power helped me spot what others could do. It broke down their skills, piece by piece. Understanding them became possible, clear and sharp.
A flicker lit my gaze, traced with old symbols while attention locked onto the dark shape ahead.
A screen popped up right there in front of my eyes:
Umbral Doppelganger
Advanced Summoning Perfect Replication
RANK: OMNIRIL
A shape made of darkness appears when needed, moving just like its maker - same power, same reflexes, same way of fighting. What it does always matches what the person did moments before. Not an echo, but something closer, almost alive. Every move repeated without delay. It learns nothing new, only reflects what already exists.
My heart sank.
Omniril rank.
Then came proof. A level past Mythic actually existed.
Truth was, Blaze spoke what happened.
That thought hadn't even settled yet - then a sudden impact hit my back hard.
A twist saved me just in time - Blaze stood motionless ahead, cuts on his face, yet laughing like nothing else mattered.
"Had enough fun?" Blaze said, wiping blood from his mouth. "Because I'm just getting started."
His fingers lifted into the air.
"Blood Release!"
Red filled his hair. From every wound, blood rose instead of falling - hanging still in the air. Sharp shapes grew from it, glass-like and uneven, drifting close like blades waiting.
Fangs formed where his teeth had been. A wild glow lit up his eyes, bright like something hunting.
Not quite a vampire - more like what comes after.
How strange is this power?
Again I gave Spectrus a go, just to see how it would behave
Faster than I could react, Blaze shut the door on any reply.
A blur stepped close - impact followed, knuckles meeting gut without warning.
Bones shook under the hit, though I wore the Celestial Avatar Mantle. A wave of pressure tore through me when it landed. Devastation followed fast on its heels.
Wind left my lungs, a sharp inhale escaping.
On he went, Blaze. A brutal uppercut landed under my chin, jerking it upward. My sight filled with bursts of light, sudden and sharp.
Fists flew every which way, each arm thrashing through air in a scramble to grab hold.
He weaved between my strikes effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. "Come on, sweetheart! Four arms and you still can't land a hit?"
Fury ripped through me as I drove punch after punch toward him. High strikes came from one pair of arms, while the lower ones sought openings below - closing in without warning. He had nowhere to go, caught between angles. My limbs moved like corners tightening around a shrinking space.
Barely crouching beneath the sweeping blows, he vaulted past the lower swings - then drove a punishing kick into my side while still rising. A hairline fracture split the gilded plating on contact.
Off balance for just a second, I twisted around - my spare arm swinging wide, landing a slap across his face.
The blow connected.
Backward he flew, boots carving grooves into the dirt. From his lips, blood crept down - laughter came anyway. A grin split his face despite the stain spreading below.
"There we go! That's what I'm talking about!"
We clashed again.
Fists crashed together, fast and hard. Thunder cracked with every hit, shaking the space between us.
Fists launched at his chest, both aimed hard. His forearms came up - crusted blood cracking under pressure - as he deflected the hit. Still, the power behind it shoved him backward, sliding across the ground until momentum gave out.
Right away he spun, aiming a kick at my face. My forearm blocked it mid-air, then down he went - hard, sudden, no warning.
Beneath his feet, the ground split into jagged hollows.
Faster than a breath, something lunged - dark shape, sharp steel - a flash of pain split my skin right between the shoulders. The blades were familiar. Too familiar.
With a shout of agony, I turned toward it - only for it to disappear once more.
Fumes curled into the air as Blaze climbed out of the hole, red streaks on his skin, laughter splitting his face wide open. One against two now - hope that sits well with you
"I won't stand here while you run," I yelled.
"Coward? Nah. I just like to multitask."
A shape surged forward once more. Around it, red strands swirled slowly at first, then twisted into lash-like coils reaching my way.
A sharp twist came - my arms up fast to block, yet the tendrils coiled tight, holding me still for just a second.
Fists clenched, he surged forward - my gut met his rising knee like a hammer finding its nail.
Blood came when I coughed, shaking me from head to toe.
Yet there was more to come.
A sudden burst of power tore through the red strands, snapping them wide. My left limb locked around Blaze's neck before he could move.
A small shift came over his gaze. The look on his face changed just a bit.
Up came my hands, lifting him clear of the dirt. Down he went, hard, face meeting soil. A sharp crack followed - my forearm driving into his side without pause. The air left his lungs like a gust cut short.
CRACK.
Bones cracked under pressure.
Suddenly, a scream tore from Blaze - yet his laughter didn't stop.
"Yes! YES! That's it! Show me more!"
Fists drove again, then again. Four arms worked together - two pinning, two hammering ribs, jaw, sternum without pause. He stayed trapped beneath the rhythm of it.
Beneath each blow, the ground seemed to shudder. Red droplets arced through the air from broken skin. Shaking ran deep in his muscles as strikes kept coming.
A shape made of darkness moved fast, planting two blades hard into my ribs. This happened right after I thought it was gone.
Out of nowhere, a sharp cry tore from my throat as I let go of Blaze, stumbling back.
The shadow vanished.
Up he got, piece by piece, bones aching, face streaked with red, yet that smile stayed put.
"You're strong, Mr. Jhawar," he said, breathing heavily. "Stronger than I expected. But let me show you something."
Up went his hands, while the blood on them started to move and harden.
Out of nowhere, sharp red crystals burst from his arms and hands - jagged, wild, dangerous. Crimson shards tore through skin at the elbows and fists, sudden, fierce, unrelenting.
"Let's see how your fancy armor handles this."
He lunged.
A sharp punch landed hard against my ribs. The force knocked the breath right out of me.
Fissures spread through the gilded plates. A sharp sound broke the silence as it split open.
Through them went the spikes.
My breath caught, the taste of iron spreading on my tongue.
A wild swing aimed his way - cut short by the shadow stepping in front. That shape moved fast, stopping me mid-motion.
Footsteps echoed as Blaze swung his arm backward, then punched deep into my gut - more force behind it now.
Bones cracked under the force of it. Into the wound went the points, ripping past skin and tissue.
I screamed.
Flinching at how close he stood, I heard Blaze sneer, "Tiring out so soon, dear?"
My upper arms swung toward his face, aiming a hit
Still, he seized my wrists without effort, palms slick with blood clamping down like cold steel.
A sudden move, his forehead struck my face.
A flash filled my eyes, bright as bone. Back I staggered, head swimming.
Kicking my chest, Blaze sent me through the air.
Foot first, I hit the earth hard, sliding through dust and pebbles. Pieces of my gilded suit split apart, held by thin threads of metal.
On shaky legs I rose, each breath a fight. Then came air, slow and sharp.
Out of the corner came Blaze, moving slow, hands loose at his sides. Not rushing. Like minutes meant nothing to him.
"You know what?" he said. "I'm actually having a great time. You're fun, Mr. Jhawar. Way more fun than those other Holy Knights."
Footsteps crunched on gravel. My teeth clenched around the taste of iron
"Oh, I know," Blaze said, grinning. "That's what makes this so entertaining."
That is when it caught my eye.
His daggers were gone, Blaze noticed. The weight at his hips felt wrong now.
Where are they?
One moment passed when something hit me hard between the shoulder blades.
The black dagger.
A sudden impact came from nowhere, left my body reeling. The shape in darkness moved before I could turn.
A shape stepped into view, cutting hard at my chest - one blade left, one right - crossing fast like a storm breaking.
Fragments of gold fell away like brittle leaves. Broken pieces dropped one by one to the ground. The last shine faded into silence.
Beneath, the armor gave way.
Flesh open wide, blood pouring out across my ribs.
A shape formed next to me - Blaze. Blood ran down his fingers. A splash landed on my bare chest where the skin split open.
It took aching to make it clear.
A weight began to form deep within. It spread slowly, without sound.
My eyes dropped, filled with fear.
Fragments of red glass pushed outward, breaking through skin at the center of my torso. From within, they sliced past bone and tissue, cutting a path through every part but one organ - my heart stayed whole.
Out of my lungs came a sound bigger than any noise I'd made up until then.
"What... did you do...?!" I gasped.
Blaze leaned in close, his grin wicked. "Just a little surprise, sweetheart. My blood? It can crystallize inside you. Fun, right?"
I was dying.
Falling to one knee, blood soaked through my clothes. A sharp burn crawled up my arm - poison moving quick. Each breath felt like swallowing glass; those spikes did more than tear flesh.
Something needs action. Right away.
Darkness came. I turned it on once more.
"Holy Release!"
A warm glow rose through my body again, building upon the earlier surge of sacred power.
The power doubled.
Blaze's eyes widened. "Wait... you're stacking Holy Release? Two at once?!"
He laughed, genuinely impressed. "I've never seen anyone do that before. You really are unique, Mr. Jhawar."
A slow twist pulled at the corner of his mouth.
This changes how I must deal with you now
Up went his arms, stretching toward the clouds as words ripped from his throat and rolled over the field like thunder.
"Genesis Sovereigns: The Twin Apocalypse!"
Out of nowhere, two giant dragons appeared in the sky right above his head.
A deep red creature shimmered, each scale catching light like precious stones. Fire lit up its gaze, a bright crimson glow within. This one moved with quiet intensity, every step deliberate.
One shimmered in pale silver, ghostlike, stunning but frightening. From within, a strange glow throbbed - green-tinged, shifting, spreading under the surface of its skin like something breathing. It moved without moving, alive in stillness.
A single thunderous cry rose from them, rattling stones beneath their feet. Above, clouds tore apart under the force of it.
Then they dove.
Straight toward me.
I tried to prepare for what was coming
Yet readiness eluded me.
A sudden impact hit like fire from the sky. Metal wings crushed down without warning. The ground split open beneath my feet.
Blast shattered everything. Stillness followed after the roar faded.
A blast ripped across the field, flattening all for three kilometers. So intense the noise that ears might burst just hearing it. Out of nowhere - fire, light, poison, power - all swirling in one searing storm. That moment turned sky and ground into chaos.
A shudder ran through the earth. Screaming filled the sky.
After everything had calmed down.
What stayed behind was a huge hole in the ground.
Three kilometers wide.
A stretch of three kilometers lies flattened. Buildings gone. Roads cracked open. Nothing moves through the silence now.
Nothing remained. Ash and broken pieces covered what once stood there.
Yet through the wreckage, a single person stepped forward.
Me.
Using the snapped blade like support, I attempted to rise - yet nothing happened. My limbs simply would not respond. Shattered bones made movement impossible. Standing was out of reach. Even getting onto one knee failed completely.
A thick red warmth ran down my skin from too many cuts to count. Everything flickered - my sight dimming, then returning, uneven.
Next thing, the alerts started arriving.
A sudden wave of crimson alerts filled my sight, each one blinking fast
[WARNING: HEALTH SEVERELY DEPLETED]
[Warning Poison Spread Affects Sixty Percent of Body]
[Warning Multiple Fractures Detected]
[Warning Organ Failure Imminent]
One by one, I paid no attention. Still, they kept talking.
Fingers like stone, slow and clumsy, crept toward the ring on my belt. Every breath burned, yet somehow they closed around the metal. The world blurred, just for a second, before holding still again.
The old thing came into my hands. It was heavy, covered in dust from years underground.
What the whole fight was really about.
Shaking fingers cradled the thing, slick with red. Its light pulsed like a heartbeat under my skin. Close to the edge, almost gone, yet the warmth still climbed up my arm. The weight of it stayed real, even when everything else faded.
That was when he came into view.
Blaze.
A figure moved my way, blades gripped tight, face quiet like he already knew how it would go.
Footsteps echoed down the hall - his shadow stretched long under the door. Cold air prickled my neck as the latch clicked open. This moment had been waiting longer than I cared to admit.
He definitely is.
Fingers closed hard around the object, thoughts sprinting even as agony tugged at the edges of awareness.
This matters too much to hand it over.
A moment passed before it hit me - those words from before, the ones about breaking their "Lord" out of some other world. Who even was he? Why did any of that matter?
Still, my understanding went far.
Should they have chosen to turn their back on everyone just for that Artifact, what comes next could unravel everything. Whatever they intend won't end quietly.
This won't be allowed to go through.
A thought arrived - wild, reckless, dangerous. It sat there, breathing hard.
If I take in what the Artifact holds inside….
Fear curled in my chest. That force, locked tight, would rip through bone and breath alike. Silence followed. Death waited just behind.
Still, getting it wasn't going to happen for them.
Somehow I had to hold them back, no matter the price.
Death will come regardless, I told myself with a sharp taste in my mouth. Perhaps it's better to give it some weight.
Fingers locked around the object, breath burning deep inside, I pushed sound through broken air - sharp, raw, tearing from my throat.
"Holy Release!"
Out of nowhere, a bright golden force burst from me, curling around the Artifact like threads of firelight. Slowly, its strength started flowing into me.
Right then, the ache began.
It was unbearable.
Nothing had hurt like this. Not the venom burning in my veins. Not the crunch of splintered ribs. Not even the jagged metal ripping through flesh from inside. This cut deeper than all of them put together.
Fire burned through me, starting deep within. Every part of me seemed caught in its path. Heat spread, consuming completely.
I screamed.
Out of nowhere, golden streaks showed up on my arms - bright trails that stung like fire touching flesh. From splits in the light came surges, rushing free without warning or shape.
Falling apart inside, that's how it felt. Power from the Artifact - endless, crushing, like air turned to stone.
Yet I kept moving forward.
I kept absorbing.
Far off, Blaze moved fast in my direction until his gaze landed on my actions - then fear filled his face.
Running began the moment he spun around.
Burst forward. Hesitation left behind.
That bastard...
Still hurting, I noticed something cold inside me rise. Not pain this time - relief. Across from me, Blaze hesitated. That flicker in his eyes wasn't anger anymore. Fear had finally reached him.
He was fleeing.
He saw it before it happened.
Through the hurt, my thoughts roared louder than sound. What in the world brought me here? Swallowing that Quantomni thing - was it rage, curiosity? A break from sense. Now the weight pulls down, sharp and cold.
Stopping at that point wasn't an option anymore.
A hum grew beneath my skin, slow at first, then louder. Pressure climbed, filling each breath with weight. It pushed against my ribs, sharp and insistent. Something near breaking point, coiled tight.
My thoughts spiraled.
Is This How I Die?
Could it be over now?
It hit me how I ended up right here. Betrayals came first. Then the ache of loss. Lies piled on top without warning.
Funny thing about memories - they stick around when you least expect them. Trita, my sister, was someone I cared for deeply. Yet one day she chose another person instead of standing by me. That moment still lingers, quiet but sharp.
Beyond the years we shared, she turned away. That moment still lingers - her hand against my life. All because of him.
Friendship meant everything - until he chose cash. That betrayal came from someone I never saw coming. Money talked louder than loyalty.
It was everyone I held close, the faces I'd have given my life to protect - yet every one of them walked away. Not a single exception remained.
Here I lay, broken inside a hollow scar on the ground, life slipping away without anyone near. The air tasted like rust and silence pressed against my ears while pieces of me scattered beyond reach.
Why even dwell on regret at this moment? I thought, tasting bitterness. Too late it is.
Yet just before everything went dark, a last idea lit up inside me, fierce and sudden.
If I somehow find myself handed another shot….
Trust does not come easily to me.
Some folks are blood. Others aren't. Nobody fits every shape.
Survival means going solo. When needed, others might play a role - trust never enters the picture. Alone works better.
Who really believes in trust anymore? It vanished a long time ago.
A sudden rush built up, then held tight.
And then
BOOOOOOM.
A blast tore through everything. It left nothing standing afterward.
A sudden burst of gold filled the sky, wiping out all sight for miles. From its core rushed a wave so strong it turned rock to mist, leaving nothing untouched. Ground cracked open like thin ice under fire.
A noise like thunder split the sky wide open. It crashed down hard enough to rattle every bone.
Floating right there in the middle of everything….
I died.
I gasped.
Wide awake now. My eyelids flew apart.
Beneath me, the mattress held its familiar shape. My own room surrounded me, quiet. The sheets were exactly where they always ended up after sleep.
A thin blanket lies stretched across the bed. Above, the same old ceiling stains stare back. From the corner, a fan stirs the air with a quiet whir.
Breath jagged, I jerked upright, pulse slamming against my ribs. Dampness crept from my forehead, trailing through fabric on my back.
What...?
Panic rose as I turned my head sharply. The room blurred past, corners twisting out of view.
This was my room.
My actual room.
A faded poster hung where it always did. Over by the window sat the desk, slightly tilted. That yellowed lamp - still working after all these years - glowed faintly.
My throat felt tight. "What in the world..." came out rough, barely loud enough to hear.
Could it have been… just sleep playing tricks?
Fingers met skin, bracing for gashes that never came. Bone should have cracked under invisible force. Needles of pain failed to pierce, though memory insisted they did. Chest stayed whole, untouched by what lived inside it.
Yet it stayed empty.
Breathing steady. Skin smooth. Nothing torn. Quiet healing.
My eyes fixed on my stomach as I pulled up my shirt.
Completely intact.
Something so real turned out to be nothing at all, I realized, tension draining away. Just shadows playing tricks. Nothing more.
That is when everything stopped.
No.
Wait.
It came back, clear as day. Hurting so much I could barely breathe. Every crack in my ribs, every burn on my flesh, each organ shutting down slow. That moment stayed stuck in my head.
Floating through sleep, you never carry that kind of hurt.
Fingers of cold climbed up my back. Cold air slipped under my skin like a whisper.
This time it really happened. Not just something imagined.
It was real.
I died.
My breathing quickened.
How Am I Here?
How Am I Alive?
Just as thoughts began to form, a vibration came from the nightstand. The phone broke the silence without warning.
DING.
A notification.
Fingers shaking, I pulled it close, then tapped the glass awake.
What was said made no difference.
It was the date that grabbed me.
My eyes stayed fixed on that thing.
Blinked.
Stared again.
December 26, 2023.
Fear shot through me like ice.
"No," I whispered. "No, that's... that's impossible."
Looking once more. A second time after that.
Still set for the same day. Not shifted one bit.
December 26, 2023.
Just two years earlier, that fight hadn't happened yet.
Ahead of the blast by twenty-four months.
Before my death, two years passed.
Shaking started in my fingers.
"I'm... I'm back?" I stammered, my voice rising. "I'm back two years in the past?!"
Bare legs hit the floor when the blanket flew aside, a clumsy dash forward pulling me toward the glass hanging crooked on the wall.
My eyes locked onto the face in the mirror.
Younger.
Bare skin. Not a mark shows. My expression holds nothing back.
Just like back then, my face hadn't changed a bit - two years gone, yet still the same eyes staring out. OmniWars came first, then the broken trust, one piece at a time. Everything cracked open after that.
My chest tightened.
A weight dropped into my chest. The air around me shifted without warning.
This time around feels different. Life now moves at its own pace.
Fingers pressed hard against the glass, I moved nearer, fixed on the stare that looked back.
Out of nowhere, my voice burst through the room, strong enough to rattle every wall in sight.
"MY SECOND LIFE HAS BEGUN!"