He tilted his head upwards.

An endless sea of flickering lights reflected against his dull eyes. Shooting stars painted the dark canvas with trailing streams of white as they scattered in all directions.

When the young boy stepped through the milky white film, he found himself alone in a dark open space. Other than the majestic view above, there were no walls and only a single crystal podium a few meters in ahead.

A hint of excitement sparked deep within his core as his mind processed the scintillating sky, but that feeling was instantly extinguished the moment a certain desire seeped into his soul—the desire to share this view with his deceased parents.

An ache formed within his chest. Ignoring it, he tore his eyes away from the sky and focused on the lone podium.

The pitch-black floor extended outward endlessly, and a soft white glow briefly appeared below with every step he took. The glow rippled outwards as if he were disturbing the surface of a still lake that reached towards the abyss.

He neared the podium and noticed a small token floating above it.

The token didn’t have any distinguishing features, other than the multitude of lines etched into it. There were so many lines randomly interwoven, that it was almost as if the token had been shattered and glued back together.

Inwardly he felt that holding this token would immediately take him out of this empty space.

Of course, this was basic knowledge for those that lived in the city. Everyone knew the general process of entering and exiting the tower; as well as all, or most, of the rules that went with it.

Everyone knew that when someone entered the tower, they would find themselves in an empty space.

The emotionless sky would have a light grey color with no exceptional features or lights, while the white marble ground that they walked upon would be indestructible from any type of damage. Finally, a small token would float above a stone podium.

When someone firmly held the flawless token, which had no lines etched within, they would be whisked away and transported to one of the many towns or cities on the first floor of the tower.

The boy hesitated.

Perhaps I can just stay here, alone…

He thought to himself as he looked back up towards the bright lights.

Alone. Completely alone.

No one could be indirectly hurt by him, and he wouldn’t have to powerlessly watch others suffer from his presence. He could stay here until the end and simply enjoy this surreal environment.

He closed his eyes before shaking his head.

I’ll just keep to myself.

He reached out, grasping the small token.

A sudden shift in his surroundings briefly dulled his senses. Instead of an open space, he found himself in the middle of a large market area.

The sound of a hammer striking metal, a small child crying in the distance, and many other ambient noises quickly assaulted him.

“Hey kid move it!”

A deep voice growled next to him before he was pushed aside.

A large hulking man sauntered off while carrying a huge sack over his shoulder. The mammoth of a man didn’t even look back as he continued straight.

The boy glanced down and found himself in the same rags he always wore. He also noticed that the small token was nowhere to be seen. He ducked out of the way of the large crowd, settling on the side of the road.

He let out a small sigh before feeling a few gazes resting on him. Many people stared at him with different types of expressions.

“This kid really needs new clothes…”

A woman said curtly before walking off in disgust.

“Papa I think that boy needs help!”

A small girl said as she tugged on a tall man’s hand, pointing to the boy.

“Come now, let’s get away from him. Don’t associate yourself with boys like that. Do you understand?”

The man pulled the small girl away as she nodded with a confused look.

These were only some of the many words that passed into his ears, causing his already faded eyes to grow a shade darker. He bit his lip before suddenly walking off in a random direction.

For now, he’d just have to ignore it until he could leave the town.

His initial curiosity for his surroundings slowly melted away as he focused on tuning out the voices. Before he knew it, he was already at the gates and walking towards a dense forest.

His chest felt heavy, and he took deep breaths as he organized his thoughts together.

What did I ever do to them?

He couldn’t resist the indignant feeling that bubbled up.

Lost in contemplation, he continued forward until sun touched the horizon. Soon, the sounds of the forest were all he could think about. He was completely alone.

Hours of walking had led him deep into nature. The last wisps of sunlight faded away. Looking down at himself, he clenched his hands into small fists.

He closed his eyes.

Inhale. Exhale.

No.

His eyes flashed open as he let out a loud yell at the top of his lungs.

“AAAHHHHHH!”

His scream echoed outward, and the trees seemed to have swayed from the vibrato of the sound.

However, only a few seconds afterward…

“Owoooooo!”

The sound of a single wolf echoed through the young night as it heralded an encore of howls.

“Owooo!”

“Owooooo!”

The boy could hear leaves rustling and twigs snapping in all directions. He knew he was quickly being surrounded by the feral creatures, but he showed no signs of fear in his eyes.

He stood in a small clearing while gentle rays of moonlight cast him a dark shadow. He slowly clenched and unclenched his hands repeatedly in trepidation as the wolves crept in closer.

He heard a soft thud behind him followed by a vicious snarl. He turned around to see a large white wolf looking down at him, teeth bared.

The wolf was at least three meters in height and its fur appeared frayed in some areas. Its body was completely covered in battle scars.

Not even a minute passed by before the white wolf was joined by a handful of smaller grey wolves. While they were smaller than the white wolf, each one was still massive and their bodies rippled with muscle.

The young boy stared upwards at the white wolf with dead eyes as energy began to circulate throughout his body. Tension rose higher as he slowly began to take a natural stance. The wolves snarled in response.

“Owooo!”

One last howl shook the air and the smaller wolves began a mad dash towards the boy.

A malicious smile etched across his face; he quickly located the nearest wolf and took a deep breath.

With a small dash and a leap, he met the wolf in midair, letting out a ferocious punch down onto its head.

A thunderclap cracked through the air!

The wolf plummeted to the ground, followed by a rippling shockwave. The wolf never stood back up, its head was nowhere to be seen.

Although this caused the other wolves to briefly slow, they quickly resumed their aggression and hurled themselves towards the boy, who easily welcomed them into a full-fledged brawl.

Brimming with energy from head to toe, he threw his entire body at the pack. The concept of death didn’t cross his mind, this was merely an outlet for all the anger and sorrow built up over time.

The beasts didn’t stand a chance.

A yelp rang out as another wolf limped away from the brutal melee. Some wolves were missing limbs as they had been torn off, while other wolves showcased dented bones and bloodied bodies.

The boy wasn’t exactly faring any better as he had long gashes across his body. His already tattered clothes were practically rags barely being held together. His eyes were crazed as tears poured out of them, intermingling with the blood that came out of his mouth.

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The wolves began a full retreat after sensing they had picked a fight with little chance of victory.

They disappeared into the forest just as quickly as they had come, leaving the boy alone to deal with his unstable emotions.

The boy collapsed onto his knees after seeing his company run off into the night. Liquid, the combination of his blood and tears, trickled off his face.

Everywhere hurt.

Each of his limbs carried some sort of wound, which ranged from bone fractures to light and deep gashes. His mouth continued to shift between a smile and a frown while his stinging eyes were narrowed in thought.

He felt alive with the pain assaulting his senses, and yet at the same time, he felt dead after the excitement was over.

Not for even a minute did he register the amount of strength required to fight off an entire pack of Sterling Wolves. These wolves were B rank monster beasts that would make rare appearances in certain forests.

In fact, if a Sterling Wolf sighting was made, many travelers would immediately steer clear of any road close to the spot. Only people with vast experience would group together to hunt the pack of wolves.

Even if one had the capability to take on a single wolf, did they have the strength to take on the entire pack? Since the wolves would always travel together, attempting to kill the wolves one by one was impossible.

The boy glanced at the carnage, before dragging himself off the floor and stumbling deeper into the forest.

He half-closed his eyes, simply letting his feet take him forward. Stray branches flicked at his face earning him additional minor cuts, but he didn’t care.

The low gurgling of a nearby stream trickled into his ear. He walked toward it.

The sound of the flowing water mixed with the chirps of insects the closer he got. Eventually, he could see the stream up ahead, but instead of walking further—he paused.

At the base of the tree beside him, a generous clump of familiar looking herbs sprouted from the earth. He thought back to his time working for the old woman at the medicine shop and recalled some details.

Violet Plume Stalk was the name of this herb, and it was a poison that was known for its strong hallucinogenic properties. Normally when customers purchased this herb, it was always done so with a variety of different herbs.

His brain cells fired off quickly, mentally processing the different herbs and their properties.

Medicine?

He wondered to himself. For some reason he instinctually felt that the combination of herbs could become a calming agent. Although, if the stalk were eaten alone and in large quantities then it could be lethal.

He crouched before the stalks and narrowed his eyes.

On one hand, he could combine this toxin with the herbs from his memories to recreate the medicine. He could even recall passing quite a few of the required plants during his random walking.

On the other hand, he could eat these stalks by themselves. A deep yearning to see his parents seeped into his consciousness.

He reached out to collect handfuls of the herb.

Continuing toward the stream, his mouth twitched as he stared at the bundle of stalks in his arms. He never considered the possibility of one day intentionally poisoning himself.

Before long, his reflection stared back at him from the surface of the water. The moon shone brightly, giving his surroundings a light blueish hue.

After placing the herbs onto the floor, he took a stalk into his hands before quickly taking a bite.

“Crunch… crunch… Bleh.”

The plant tasted completely foul and he immediately dunked his head in the water.

After washing down the taste, he sat, arms around his knees, and waited patiently. A small amount of anticipation bubbled within his chest as he silently hoped for the best.

He wished to see them again, his parents who could now only be found in his dreams. The only consistency in his unfortunate life. He never even got to say goodbye.

The moon’s beauty captured his attention as time passed by.

After a few minutes, nothing happened. A few more minutes, still nothing. He closed his eyes, engrossed in thought.

Am I completely resistant to the toxin…?

In fact, there’s a chance that even if he ate all the herbs in one go, he still might not be under its effects. The boy frowned and stared at the stalks in contemplation.

“Ah, how unlucky.”

He muttered quietly before reaching out to grab multiple stalks at once.

He held his breath before violently eating all the stalks in one go without a single care.

“Ack! Kuh-Ugh…”

He coughed out a purple and blue mist and gasped for air before drowning himself in water once more. After catching his breath, he waited with greater expectation.

However, after waiting a few minutes, he simply shook his head and left. He had built up a small amount of hope that stemmed from his expectations, only to find it crumbling around him.

“Where to next... hmm?”

He noticed some mountain peaks in the far-off distance.

“I wonder what mysteries those mountains hold.”

Thus, his new destination was decided.

Each step he took sent a small jolt of pain throughout his body, but he didn’t mind. If anything, he welcomed the sensation. A haunting smile formed on his face.

Time creeped by as he stumbled closer to the mountains. At some unknown point, the trees began to bend sideways, while the ground grasped at his feet.

A gentle burn slowly radiated outward from chest. After a few more moments, he could feel the world around him begin to spin.

The burn gradually turned into a raging inferno that ripped and tore through his body. His veins burst to life and faintly pulsed with a violet color.

The excruciating pain was masked by a wave of euphoria. Despite all of this, the boy continued to smile, his eyes staring off in the distance.

Up ahead, a thin and frail figure could be seen interweaving through the trees. Its body was masked in shadows, but the boy could still make out the familiar outline.

His heart soothed itself, while his body felt as if it were being eaten alive.

The shadowy figure stepped away each time the boy took a step forward. He briefly reached out with a single hand and mindlessly pursued after the image.

The trees danced with delight by the sides and the ground no longer ensnared his feet. He broke out into an unstable run, causing his previous wounds to resurface.

Time became an illusionary concept, and an entire day passed by like this. The sun had risen and set, while the moon once more shared its gentle light.

Throughout his mindless pursuit, the boy’s body actively fought off the tidal wave of intoxication.

Although his resistances were extraordinarily high for his age, he was still young and weak. Other than slowing down the effects, there was little his system could do to stop the massive amount of toxin that coursed through his veins, and it would take days for it to dissipate naturally.

The boy hobbled and leaped up the mountain path still chasing after the elusive shadow. Before he knew it, the shadow disappeared into the mouth of a dark cave.

Delirious and unrelenting, he chased after his desires and rushed into the cave.

After turning a few corners, the narrow cave tunnel suddenly opened into a massive cavern with dim lighting. Gently glowing shards and crystals could be seen protruding outward from the rocks that lined the walls.

This was a C grade spirit shard mine. These mines were where organizations harvested nodes for spirit shards, a currency valued ten times more than gold.

Due to his external influence, what the boy saw was not just a simple mining site.

The lights and shadows converged together, creating different phantoms that flew across the ceiling. The rocks seemed to stretch further from the walls like an earthy briar of death. His heart pounded in fear and his eyes were stained with a purple glow.

Lost in his delusions, a piercing scream resonated from deeper within the mine shaft!

“Eeeek!”

It was the sound of a woman’s voice, followed by the deep yell of a man.

“Get back! Get to the entrance!”

The voices intermingled with each other in the boy’s mind as he unconsciously replaced them with the sounds of his sick and dying parents from when he was young.

“Mom… Dad…”

He murmured as tears formed in his eyes. Before he knew it, he was tripping on rocks and racing towards the direction of the commotion.

In the back of the large cavern, a dark hole was nestled between two large pillars. It was the entrance to another room.

Without any hesitation, he dashed into it.

“Run!”

The man shouted once more; immediately afterward, the roar of a beast shook the floor.

A large and dirt-covered man stood defensively in front of a woman who had fallen to the floor. A massive serpent-like beast with four legs glared down at the couple—it had just found its next snack.

Its tongue whisked outward before coming back into its mouth. It let out another vicious roar, revealing its rows of sharp and jagged teeth.

The boy hyperventilated upon seeing this.

Down below were his parents, fighting for their lives. They were going to die, and he was just watching. His purple tinged eyes took on a reddish hue as he clenched his teeth.

The creature’s head started to pull back. It was preparing for a deadly strike!

Without another delay, the boy launched himself through the air with a powerful jump.

The man down below saw the serpent’s body building tension. He began to sweat profusely.

This was a B rank beast, the Awan Snake.

The man and his wife were inherently extremely greedy, and decided to scout out this spirit shard mine after hearing that it was cursed and abandoned.

Their thoughts were simple.

They could check it out for any signs of danger, and if there were any then they could simply run away. However, if the rumors of the curse were a pile of lies—they would gain an immense amount of profit harvesting the mine!

Although that was the plan, they were extremely naïve. The reason why people called it cursed is because no one could live to tell the tale. People randomly disappeared after going inside the mine, so people stopped going in altogether.

The man silently lamented, secretly vowing to never be greedy again—that is, if he somehow made it out alive.

Just as he finished this thought, the Awan Snake also finished building energy and quickly lashed out. The man instinctively shut his eyes tight and grasped the sword in his hand.

The crack of a thunderclap reigned supreme!

A wall of air threw the man onto his back next to his wife.

“Let’s… let’s go. Let’s run! While it’s distracted!”

The woman looked up in fear as a boy landed off to the side. The man, who just now opened his eyes, was both shocked and confused.

The first thing he noticed was the serpent getting back up to its feet with anger filled eyes. Then he noticed the small boy, who was staring at them with a longing look in his face.

“This kid…”

The man’s insides twisted as looked at the boy. The boy looked more like a monster beast than a human!

His clothes were shredded and torn. His body was covered in a myriad of wounds. As if that weren’t enough, his eyes glowed with a purplish hue, while he very visible veins were pulsing with the same color. A chaotic, yet happy expression was plastered onto the boy’s face as he looked at the couple up and down.

“Y-You’re right, let’s run!”

The man knew this was his chance to escape. He could leave this odd boy here as food for the serpent while he and his wife made a mad dash to for the exit. This was a rare opportunity!

The couple hastily scrambled to their feet. Without a second thought, they ran toward the exit, leaving the boy behind them.

“Mom…? Dad? Where are you-!“

The boy felt in impact on his side as if a mountain giant had just shattered a tree into him. He sailed through the air, crashing into the side of the mine.

The Awan Snake pounded its tail back and forth to either side of its body. It seemed both angry and relishing its successful tail swipe.

“Oh, Oh shit! Go! Go!”

A stream of curses poured out from the man’s mouth as he and the woman exited the cave.

“Hurg…bleh!”

Blood poured of the boy’s mouth and he felt like his organs had been displaced.

He faintly made out the disappearing couple with blurry eyes. Confusion turned into a complex feeling which soon grasped his heart.

“Haaah…”

He glared at the Awan Snake.

His mind greatly cleared from the impact just before. He made a self-deprecating smile and crinkled his nose after he recalling what he just did.

Nausea filled his throat at the memory of accidentally calling out in such a manner. He secretly vowed to never repeat such a moment.

The beast continued to slam its tail from side to side threateningly before letting out a trembling roar. The boy looked up and prepared himself for the oncoming fight.

Energy once again pulsed within him, circulating throughout his body. For some reason he felt strong, but he didn’t know why. He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

He closed his eyes and listened carefully to the movements of the beast. It was growing more still than before, as if it were going to strike soon. Eventually, the beast came to a complete stop a couple meters in front of him and a slow hiss could be heard overhead.

His heartbeat slowed as he waited.

The Awan Snake could also feel an unknown tension in the air. For some reason, it couldn’t tell if it was the predator or the prey. Anger built within the beast as it removed its hesitation.

Teeth bared, it immediately launched its head at the boy!

The boy’s eyes flashed open, swiftly side-stepping the strike. In the next split second, he ferociously slammed his fist into the Awan Snake’s nearby head.

The beast’s skull suddenly had a hole in it; its body briefly froze before crashing to the ground.

With cold eyes, the boy retrieved his hand from the beast’s head. Clutched within his fingers was a glowing murky green orb—the spoils of victory.

The next moment, he fell onto the stone floor, his body void of all energy. The dim lighting of the mine shaft refracted through the surrounding crystals. Finally, he lost consciousness.