Souls... The Human Core... Tell me, why don’t you have one?

— Who knows... maybe not everyone is worthy of possessing one... don’t you agree?

City of Ars

Erick was frustrated. He stood before the vendor, who seemed indifferent to his desperation.

— Grr... What do you mean the stock is gone?! — Erick exclaimed, his eyes burning with anger as he spoke to the man in front of him.

— Sorry, kid... you got here too late, hehe... — the vendor replied with a disinterested smile, as if he was used to these kinds of situations.

Erick let out a deep sigh, feeling frustration wash over him. He knew things weren’t going well, that everything was on the verge of collapsing.

After a long walk to the village of North, Erick finally arrived home. As he opened the door, he was surprised by Louis, his younger brother, who stared at him with a serious, almost angry expression.

— Where’s my present, nii? — Louis asked, his voice low but filled with expectation.

— Sorry... I couldn’t get it... — Erick answered, unable to meet his brother’s eyes.

— Honestly... — Louis huffed, shaking his head. — I knew you wouldn’t make it... what a disappointment...

Erick tried to ignore his brother’s mocking tone but responded with a forced smile.

— Hmm... But aren’t you a bit too old to worry about this?

— T-that has nothing to do with it! — Louis looked embarrassed, his exaggerated reaction contrasting with Erick’s nonchalant tone.

That night, the two lay down on their futon, but Erick couldn’t sleep. A strange, disturbing nightmare tormented him.

He found himself in a garden, but it was no ordinary garden. The grass was dry, the flowers withered, and a heavy silence filled the air. Suddenly, voices echoed in his mind, accusing him.

"You brought the end upon all of us... you cursed humanity!"

— No... — Erick whispered, feeling a crushing weight on his chest.

"There is no place for you! You will bring ruin to everyone you love!"

— No!!! — he screamed, desperate.

Erick woke up suddenly, shouting, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving frantically. The feeling of despair still clung to him.

— Nii... Another nightmare? — Louis was awake, worried. He sat at the edge of the futon, his eyes filled with concern.

— Yeah... Sorry for waking you up... — Erick said, still trying to catch his breath.

— Don’t worry, nii. I’m here. I’ll always be by your side... — Louis gripped his hand tightly, a comforting gesture that failed to dispel Erick’s unease.

Even though the older brother felt a bit of relief, a strange and unsettling sensation lingered, as if something was about to happen.

The morning brought a desperate scream. Erick and Louis ran outside, where two couples were arguing with a visibly shaken groom, his eyes red from crying.

— How could you do this to her?!

— We trusted our daughter to you! How could you...?

Erick stared in shock at the young woman lying motionless on the ground. She looked... dead. Her body was lifeless, empty. A heavy silence hung over the scene.

— It must be hard for him... losing the one he loves... — Erick said, breaking the silence as he pulled Louis away.

— Nii... She’s still alive, look! — Louis pointed at the woman’s body, his eyes shining with hope.

Erick quickly turned to look, a chill running down his spine. The woman was slowly disappearing, as if life itself was being drained from her. She was still there, visibly alive, yet in some eerie state.

Without hesitation, Erick rushed toward her body while Louis, determined, went to the groom, trying to convince him not to lose hope.

— Don’t give up! She’s still alive. My brother will save her! I promise! — Louis declared, with a confidence that made the groom stop and stare at him in disbelief.

— Why do you trust him so much...? — the groom questioned, his eyes still filled with doubt.

Louis smiled, a calm, unwavering smile, as if his words were an undeniable truth.

— Because he keeps his promises...

The groom’s doubts wavered, hope rekindling in his eyes, while Erick focused entirely on saving the woman. But the task would not be easy.

— Hey, you brat! What do you think you’re doing to my daughter?!

The young woman’s parents ran furiously toward Erick. Before they could reach him, Louis and the groom held them back.

— What do you think you’re doing?! Let us go now! — the girl’s parents shouted, but Louis responded calmly, holding them firmly.

— Sorry, sirs, but we can’t let you through...

Alone with the woman’s body, Erick focused on doing the impossible: bringing her back. But nothing seemed to work. He was failing.

— Damn it... nothing is working... What else can I do...?

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, coming from the void.

— What do you think you’re doing to my body?! Stop that!

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Erick ignored the voice. He hurried, feeling the pressure intensify.

— This is it... my last chance... — he whispered to himself, channeling all his energy.

With a cry, sparks began to emanate from his hands, illuminating the darkness around him.

— Lightning Magic: 10 Volts of Power... now! — Erick pressed down hard on the young woman’s chest, releasing all his energy, causing a bright flash and an explosion of light that illuminated the entire field. The impact was so intense that Erick collapsed, exhausted.

When he woke up, he felt Louis’s hand gripping his tightly, full of concern.

— Nii, are you okay? Did you get hurt? — Louis asked, his face pale with worry.

— I’m fine... just a little drained... — Erick replied, struggling to sit up.

The moment Erick got up, the young woman opened her eyes.

The groom, who had been watching in despair, couldn’t contain his joy and hugged her, relieved.

— Hina! I don’t know what I would have done without you! Thank you so much!

Erick smiled, but before he could say anything, Hina’s parents rushed forward, pushing him aside as they ran to embrace their daughter.

Hina’s father, wearing an expression of regret, approached the groom and, head bowed, apologized for everything he had said.

As tensions eased, everyone left for Hina’s home, where happiness filled the air.

— Hey, Louis... don’t you think it’s a bit strange that only we saw her outside her body...? — Erick asked, his mind still clouded with doubts.

 — That doesn't matter now, Nii... Let's go home. — Louis smiled, but the look in his eyes revealed a shadow of uncertainty.

As the two brothers walked away, a mysterious hooded figure watched from afar, hidden in the shadows of the dense forest. Their eyes gleamed with a dark and distant purpose.

The two finally arrived home.

— You were amazing today! — Louis said excitedly.

— Ah, that was nothing... — Erick replied, his voice slowing down, his eyes growing heavy. Before he realized it, exhaustion took over.

Erick fell asleep right there, and Louis, worried, carried him to his room.

Night fell. The full moon illuminated the dark mountain fields, casting its silver light into the deepest shadows. In the center of the village, the same hooded man reappeared. His face remained hidden, but in his hands, he held an ancient scroll.

— The moon... is so beautiful from here — he murmured in a cold and enigmatic tone.

He unrolled the scroll, and immediately, several rifts tore through the air around him, radiating a sinister energy.

— Kill them all.

From the rifts, grotesque and monstrous creatures emerged, exuding an aura of pure corruption and deep darkness. They attacked the villagers, spreading chaos. Within minutes, screams of terror filled the village, shattering the night’s peace. No mage, no matter how experienced, could stop them. The massacre was swift and brutal.

— Wake up, Nii! — Louis shook Erick desperately.

— Huh?... Louis? What's going on? — Erick murmured, dazed.

Deafening screams echoed outside. They ran to the door and, upon opening it, were met with a scene of indescribable horror. The once peaceful village had become a slaughterhouse. Dismembered bodies spilled blood through the streets. Louis froze upon recognizing a familiar face: the groom they had helped earlier was hanging from the fountain, his body crushed and disfigured, his blood dyeing the water a deep red.

— Why... why did this have to happen?! — Louis sobbed, trembling.

To the south of the village, a family was trying to escape.

— Take our daughter and run! I'll try to buy some time! — the father shouted, pushing his wife and child away.

The creatures pounced on the woman, tearing her clothes apart with fury before ripping chunks of flesh from her body as she screamed, showing no mercy before her daughter.

— YOU BASTARDS! I'LL KILL YOU ALL! — the man roared, but he was quickly captured, his head crushed and devoured.

The little girl sobbed, terrified, as one of the creatures grabbed her by the neck. Before the worst could happen, a burst of energy freed her, and she fell into Erick’s arms.

— Are you okay? I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner... I'm so sorry... — Erick clenched his fists, his heart heavy with the weight of the tragedy.

— Papa... Mama... — the girl cried, sobbing in despair.

A creature roared and lunged at Erick.

— Louis, take her somewhere safe. Now!

— And you, Nii...?

— I'll be fine... I promise... just go.

Louis, reluctant, took the child's hand and ran away.

— Please... Don't die! — he murmured, tears in his eyes.

Erick faced the creature.

— Let's see what you're capable of, big guy! — He charged forward fearlessly, dodging attacks before delivering a powerful energy-charged strike. The impact lit up the area with a bright glow.

— I did it!

His smile vanished as he realized the creature was unharmed. Before he could react, it grabbed his leg and hurled him against the houses. The impact was brutal. He felt his ribs crack, his right arm snapping with a horrible sound. His eyes locked onto one of the creatures cornering Louis, its claws poised to strike.

— Louis... no...

With the last of his strength, he tried to rise and attack, but the creature blocked the blow effortlessly and slammed him into the ground. Erick tried to get up, but a spear pierced his abdomen, pinning him to the floor.

— Nii! — Louis screamed, his voice filled with despair as tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes.

— S-sorry, Louis... Looks like... I couldn’t keep my promise...

The village was lost. Screams, blood, destruction. No one was spared. Erick, on the verge of death, could only watch his brother’s tears.

— "I just wish things were different... If only I were a little stronger..."

Suddenly, one of the creatures near Louis had its head ripped off in the blink of an eye.

— What...?

A group of five people appeared. The leader, an imposing figure, looked at Erick.

— You're in bad shape, huh... Well, let's wrap this up.

In an instant, the strangers wiped out all the creatures in the village. When it was over, the leader approached Erick and yanked the spear from his body without warning. Erick screamed in pain.

— Hey! What do you think you're doing?! — Louis shouted, but the man’s powerful aura silenced him instantly.

A girl beside the leader healed Erick’s wounds.

— I'm... alive?

— Nii! — Louis ran and hugged him tightly, crying in relief.

The leader observed Erick intently.

— Interesting... very interesting. What’s your name, kid?

— It’s... Erick, sir...

Smiling, the leader extended his hand.

— Well, Erick, how about joining my group?

The others were surprised by their leader’s proposal.

Erick hesitated.

— I’d love to... but I’m not going anywhere without my brother.

Louis squeezed his hand.

— I’ll always be with you, Nii.

— How cute, two brothers who care for each other! Then it’s settled. Welcome to the group! Now let’s get out of this hell.

With a snap of his fingers, the group was teleported to a colossal base that resembled a castle.

— Welcome to your new home, rookies!