Margaret "Wow... that was something."

Gala "Feeling tired yet, my child?"

Margaret "Not tired, just stunned. I never knew about Ozgod. Not a single hint in any book I've read! And when he mentioned turning into monsters... is that real?"

Gala "...Listen, my dear. As I told before, some stories are best left untold for the sake of the future generation so they may live in blissful ignorance."

Margaret "Is that a good thing or bad, Grandma?"

Granny Gala gazes at a portrait on the shelf beside the bed.

Margaret "Oh... grandpa. I didn't mean to..."

Gala "All mother, no! I should be the sorry one. I have soured the mood. How about we distract ourselves with another story?"

Margaret "Amelia and Mina. They are cool but I don't understand their titles, granny."

Gala "Oho... you see it all got to do with The Will."

Margaret "The Will?"

Gala "Each of us has a will. That will can be evoked to higher heights and pulled down into silence...

Once upon a time, in a realm beneath the unfathomable depths of the ocean, where even light dares not tread, lay a land of eerie desolation. Here, gnarled trees devoid of leaves with branches reaching down like twisted arms, their palms casting a feeble glow. Beneath one such tree, at the border of this dark domain, a young human girl awakens to the chill touch of cold steel against her throat. Startled, she peers into the darkness, illuminated only by the faint light of the tree, revealing an ominous arm emerging from the shadows, brandishing a gleaming silver dagger.

??? "Finally awake, are you? Don't move a muscle, and answer my questions to the point. Who are you? And how did you get here?"

Mina "Hehe. Calm down there. I go by Mina, and let me tell you one thing. That blade of yours... it ain't gonna cut it, sis!"

With a swift drop of her chin, Mina effortlessly snaps the dagger in two.

Her hand delves into her inventory, and Mina retrieves a night vision goggle. As she slips it on, the world around her comes into focus, revealing a cluster of intense heat sources retreating with short, cautious leaps. Adjusting the knob on the right side of her device, she dispels the darkness from her vision, her face aglow with a tinge of red upon seeing the nearly naked Walteran before her. The figure possesses a lithe form adorned with sharp scales barely concealing her more intimate areas. Clad only in a thick, leathery brown coat, the hood obscures some of her facial features, save for short green hair with a large bang resembling a claw over her left eye. Matching green eyes gaze back at Mina, and a symbol of a crossed-out prayer adorns her forehead. She appears to possess no nose, ears, or even a mouth.

??? "Hey! Quit staring! Haven't you ever seen a Soulen before?!"

Mina "Hey! I'm not blind, you know! I can see you're eyeing me up too! Never seen a Human before?!"

??? "Fucking hell! Enough! Answer my question or I'll carve the gold from your lifeless body, yellow-haired human!"

Mina "Only if you answer in response!" "No needlessly charge in, Mina. Who knows if this dickhead has friends? Let's try a bit of diplomacy."

??? "Fine. Just make it quick."

Mina "First of all, my name isn't 'yellow human,' it's Mina Explorath. I was aboard a spaceship with my friends when an asteroid struck us. We crashed, and I got separated from them." "Aha! Take that! That classic line from that one movie! Shit... I forgot the name."

??? "Wow. I didn't expect you to answer so quickly. My name is Lisa 500."

Mina "500?"

Lisa "In Soulan culture, our last names denote the rank of our will. In essence, I'm the strongest among the weakest."

Mina "Whoa, whoa, slow down! Will rankings? First off, where exactly am I? And why don't you have a mouth? How do you even eat?!"

Lisa "You appeared out of nowhere in front of my cabin, hence why I tried to stab you. We Soulens don't experience hunger like you do cause we think it is like a belief. And we're not particularly fond of beliefs."

Mina "Cool and kinda neat but also depressing. Anyway, soooo you live on the edge of this place?"

Lisa "Better off that way. I don't need to fight much for land and it's better than being like the rest of the sorry sods who has the same rank."

Mina "Again with the rankings. What's the deal with that?!"

Lisa "Before I explain... Err...

Lisa turns to the side, scratching the back of her head with embarrassment, while her other hand reaches out, offering a pouch full of gold coins.

Lisa "P-P-Please be my friend."

Mina "Huh? Dude, what the fuck? That is not how you make friends. If you want to be friends, just ask. I think you're quite chill when you're calm."

Lisa "This is... This has never happened to me before."

As she stows away the bag of gold, her form begins to distort, causing Mina to lean forward with a worried look.

Mina "Woah, are you alright?"

Lisa "I'm fine, really. It's just...so... strange. You seem to care more about me than my previous friends ever did. I'm starting to question my will."

Mina "Okay, please explain from the beginning, girl. Let's hear your story."

They both settle against the tree, preparing to hear Lisa's tale.

Lisa "Long ago, there was an event known as The Split, triggered by the crash of six powerful Catalysts onto six factions, which eventually evolved into the six modern countries of Waltera— Ordan, Tradan, Mindan, Origan, Evolan, and our own, Soulan. We Soulen have harbored a deep aversion to the concept of belief ever since and bare hatred for the All-Mother. Some of our ancestors even attempted to shatter the Power Catalyst in defiance of her gift, which grants powers based on belief."

Mina "How did that go?"

Lisa "Terribly! The thing was as massive as a leviathan, and its crystal was nearly indestructible. Our ancestors eventually conceded defeat. The unfortunate outcome was that lacking any strong belief, we became the weakest of the six nations. This vulnerability led to a significant event I'm relieved not to have experienced firsthand— The Enslaving Purge. The Tradans and Evolans recognized our weakness and formed an alliance, sparking the first major war in Walteran history. Our ancestors either fell into enslavement under the Tradans or were devoured by the Evolans, save for one."

Mina "Gosh! That's horrifying!" "Oh no! Azzy in Tradan! Wait... I should have more faith in him, just as he's believed in me."

Lisa "Overwhelmed by loss and grief, the Soulen was named 'Alexander.' Stricken with loneliness, he could only trust in himself, following his own will and the Catalyst manifested it. Empowered, he liberated his people and single-handedly laid waste to half of Tradan and Evolan. It took the combined efforts of the other nations to finally bring him down. Since that day, our neighboring nations have lived in constant fear, always seeking to keep us in check."

Mina "And they never tried to attack Soulan again."

Lisa "Yep, they were scared shitless I yell ya. Heck, all the wars after that were never aimed at Soulen again."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Mina "But what if Soulen wanted to start a war?"

Lisa "We tried a couple of times but they were too good at diplomacy. Honestly, every time a war starts, those guys always try to get us on their side."

Mina "So, you mentioned something about the Power Catalyst manifesting your will."

Lisa "I meant it literally. And not all wills are equal. There are five tiers— Unilix, Bilix, Trilix, Quadralix, and Pentalix. A will can either go all with greater resolve, actions that align with it, or solidify the base of the will. Or, it can weaken due to internal conflicts, betrayals of one's will, or changes in its core."

MIna "Was that what was happening earlier?! I'm so sorry!"

Lisa "No worries. While there was some internal conflict, the foundation of my will remains intact. I still want wealth and friendship."

Mina "Ha, I totally get that."

Lisa "Mina... you're very pleasant to talk to compared to my previous companions. Maybe my will should be 'My heart for gold and My heart for friends' instead of 'My heart for gold and My gold for friends.' What do you think?"

Mina "That sounds way cooler and cute too!"

A bright green mist swirls around her and enters her forehead... now, there are two crosses on the prayer symbol.

Lisa "Oh shit! I ranked up! I'm now a Bilix!"

Mina "So I guess that counts as solidifying your will. But man... does this mean we have to say goodbye to that adorable cabin."

Lisa "Well, it was really falling apart, and all I had in there was a bed. How about we go house hunting?"

Mina "Before that... Lisa, you haven't told me anything about your power."

They begin to venture away from the cabin and deeper into the forest.

Mina "Is this forest safe? And can you see in the dark?"

Lisa "Yep, it's perfectly safe for now, and I can see as clear as day. Strangely, outsiders call this place The Unlight Forest. Oh, this forest stretches across all of Soulan, except for the center where the Blood Temple stands."

Mina "The Blood Temple?"

Lisa "Yep, it's the creation of our leader, Lord Alma 1, and the only Pentalix among us. He's a bit intimidating, but he doesn't bother with us commoners. Let me explain our powers now. Unilixes can manifest their will into weapons with abilities corresponding to their will. Bilixes can do the same but can also manifest armor. Trilixes can summon mounts. Quadralixes can enhance their weapons and armor further into their true forms. And Pentalixes can manipulate their surroundings through the sheer force of their will."

Mina "Really, that's so cool! Can I see your armor and weapon?!"

Lisa "Not right now but maybe when we—

Lisa spots a figure in the distance, carrying a lantern in one hand and dragging a bundle rope attached to an unknown mass with the other.

Lisa "Shit, we've got company!"

Mina "I can very well see that!"

Lisa "Okay, here goes nothing... My heart for gold and my heart for friends!"

A pink and gold aura envelops her like a roaring flame, shaping into armor and a weapon.

Mina gazes in awe, examining the intricate details of Lisa's equipment. The sword's blade resembles that of a medieval longsword, but it's crafted from a shiny pink metal, emitting a sharp radiant golden glow. The crossbar is a dark red disk with a gold heart symbol at its center. The handle appears ordinary, except for a heart-shaped glass pommel, which remains grey and hollow as if it was meant to be illuminated from within. Lisa's armor, covering her somewhat naked form, resembles steel splint armor, yet it's crafted from pink metal with gold-plated edges. A pink metal circular mask with a wide slit for Lisa's vision completes the ensemble, with its bottom plated in gold, forming a flaming pattern.

Mina "That is so fucking.... COOL!"

Lisa "Stay focused, Mina. I don't know who's approaching, but I hope it's not one of the Drench Wardens."

Mina "Those sound scary."

Lisa "You can bet they are. Anyone below Quadralix rank would be scared of them. A couple of freaks were assigned to 'quality check' the lower ranks. They also love using scare tactics."

A mysterious visitor finally steps into sight, and Mina immediately exhales in relief. Seeing her reaction, Lisa releases her equipment.

Mina "No way! Amelia?!"

Amelia "Mina! Is that you? I can't tell! It's still too dark from here."

Mina "Yes, it's me, gal! Just keep going coming this way."

As Amelia approaches within talking distance, her lantern finally illuminates Mina and Lisa.

Amelia "Bloody hell! You surprised me there, lass. Mina... who is this?"

Mina "A friend. Her name is Lisa. We had a bit of a rough start but she is quite chill."

Amelia "Lucky you. I had to deal with these hooligans."

Lisa "Hey, I recognize these guys. A couple of thieves and trafficking. Not strong by themselves but can be very difficult when in a group."

Amelia "Tell me about it. They gave me a heaping load of trouble.

Mina "Let's fill you in on what's been happening on my end."

Mina proceeds to recount everything that has transpired since her awakening.

Amelia "Thank the bloody stars we received proper training from Kanji otherwise, your neck would be on the chopping block, lass."

Lisa "Yeah, sorry about that."

Amelia "No need to fret. I know what it's like when someone trespasses on your turf. Alright, here's what went down on my end...

A few hours earlier, a massive cart, pulled by four starving kelpies, trudged along. The Soulen on the driver's seat cracks his whip, urging the kelpies to move faster. Six more Soulens accompany him, three on each side, laughing and squabbling. The noise finally stirs the prisoner inside... A human woman in her red lingerie, her vision sharpening as she beheld the cage and her seven captors— each but one on the right wielding a bright lantern. They appeared skinny, covered in sharp scales, devoid of hair, and with no discernible facial features except for piercing red eyes. The captors, clad in nothing but leather shorts, noticed her nakedness and her attempt to cover up, drawing all their attention...

Grunt 1 "Hey look, fellas! The bitch is awake!"

Grunt 2 "Damn, she does have a fine body. Too bad we have to save her for those lucky nobles."

Grunt rider "Watch your tongue! Don't bad mouth the clients! We need the money!"

Grunt 3 "I mean this fancy dress alone would fetch quite a hefty sum, boss."

Grunt 4 "Oh! Why don't we auction them both off?!"

Grunt 5 "Nah, you moron. Remember what we did last time? All the auctions are off limits because of those darn warden fuckers."

Grunt 6 "Hey! What the—

Amelia "Disgusting pervs!"

With a swift movement, Amelia slices Grunt number 6 in two, halting the entire cart. The other grunts swiftly group up.

All Grunts "All for gold and gold for all"

As the golden mist envelops their right hands, six gold daggers materialize with snake-shaped grips. They swiftly dart in, flanking Amelia's sides before thrusting their daggers forward. However, Amelia flicks her finger and her form begins to blur, easily evading the strike with simple movements. Yet, she notices one of the daggers hitting and obliterating the cage in an instant. The impact frees the four kelpies, who stampede, causing one of the grunts to stumble before the creatures bolt away into the dark. Seizing the opportunity, she strikes one of the villains with the back of her frying pan, rendering him unconscious. Grabbing the lantern, Amelia leaps away from the ruined cart, sprinting into the darkness until she is no longer in sight.

Grunt 1 "Damn it! Where did the bitch go?!"

Grunt 3 "Shit! Did you see how fast she was?"

Grunt rider "Don't lose your focus! As long as we stick together, we'll be fine!"

Grunt 4 "There was a blur on her. Did anyone notice that? Do humans have powers?"

Grunt 5 "Keep your eyes open, man!"

From her third-person perspective, Amelia notices something hovering above the group— a symbol of a round gold coin with the number "100" and the line "20+20+20+20+20" beneath it. Recognizing the significance, a smile spreads across her face as she focuses her power. The grunts' visions swap, causing them to panic but remain frozen in place out of fear. Amelia conjures a false image of herself, simulating a running motion, which prompts the grunts to charge forward in confusion. However, they are met with a blinding flash, splitting them off. As they stagger and swing their knives, the coin count steadily decreases to zero.

Amelia swiftly incapacitates each grunt with well-aimed strikes to the back of their heads, rendering them unconscious.

Amelia "Now, how am I gonna punish these idiots?"

Amelia dresses herself before dragging the unconscious grunts to the broken cart, where she collects four ropes and proceeds to tie up everyone except the rider. Examining the lantern, she discovers a translucent yellow orb inside. Gathering more orbs from other lanterns, she ponders the idea of making the lantern brighter. Curious, she removes her glove and touches the orb with her bare skin. The more her skin touches it, the brighter it becomes. With a devious smile, Amelia presses it against the rider's head, causing it to glow even brighter. With a sinister grin, she beheads the rider and empties the insides with her knife, stuffing all the orbs into the head through the eye sockets.

With the final adjustments made, Amelia places the defiled head into the lantern, illuminating a large area around her.

Amelia "Ha! Seems like that empty head of yours was good for something after all. Now, where to next?" "Perhaps... a slight detour north, hoping to reach an edge of some sort I suppose. Oh, I almost forgot about the whip!"

Amelia drags the grunts along for a couple of hours, occasionally whipping any of them who awaken until they're unconscious once more. Fortune favors her, and she eventually reaches the edge. The hero backtracks a bit and skirts the edge until she finally encounters Mina and Lisa.

Lisa "Damn, you're pretty hardcore but why keep them alive?"

Amelia "I needed information and a little payback. But... now that we have you, I don't need them anymore. How should I make them suffer?"

Lisa "Hmm... Oh! What about tossing them over the edge? They'll land directly in the center of Evolan."

Mina "How is that a punishment?"

Lisa "Evolan is a place of pure suffering. I've heard countless tales of outsiders venturing in, only to be found mutilated beyond recognition. Unlike other nations, Evolan thrives on chaos and death, with no semblance of law."

Mina "Then how can that nation even exist?"

Amelia "Yeah, wouldn't the other nations try to attack it?"

Lisa "They have, multiple times. But the sheer chaos of the place makes all attempts futile. It's hard to explain, but I'm grateful there's no law there... otherwise, they'd have united and conquered all of Waltera. Thanks to that lawlessness, Alexander was able to crush half of Evolan."

Amelia "Okay, sounds pretty neat to me, lasses! Let's go!"

They march to the edge of Soulan and toss the bound grunts over... One of them regains consciousness.

Grunt 1 "What... Where am I? Why am I falling? Oh... OH NO! PLEASE NOOOoooo....

Amelia "Ah, I feel much better and a bit sleepy."

Lisa "I have three sleep bags with me. We can take turns keeping watch and rest for the night."

Mina "Sounds like a plan!"

The night passes without incident.