Chapter 1: Here we meet, brothers (1).
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Fear is often associated with the darkness of night, the dark, hollow blackness .
It is said that on those nights the light of the full moon dries up and fades away, as madness rises in the world .
It is on those nights that the buried desire within one awakens, the dark desire for bloodshed, what one denies in the depths of one's soul becomes the law .
The name of those nights was deeply engraved on the people of this world: the hollow moon Nights .
Thus, the black color for people was a harbinger of horror and fear .
An environment that seems as unclear as fog, its land cannot be felt, its sky is unknown whether its borders are near or far .
Can you understand where is near or far ?
Let alone understanding the trend, even keeping a sober mind becomes exhausting in itself .
In this place, a little boy stood before a cold-eyed man .
The color of the place was completely white, neither the ground nor the sky reflected the differences of each other, the clothes of the boy and the man were no different .
The area wasn't a building or a hall, it was an ominous meadow .
" Little boy, weak desires reflect the weakness of their owner. Whoever indulges in desires that reflect greed will have his mind destroyed, thus becoming hollow. "
The man spoke to the boy in a neutral voice, neither hatred nor love reflected in that strange tone .
Oh ?
The boy was a little intrigued, his crimson eyes holding a hint of curiosity .
The man didn't notice, or rather, didn't care, continuing his words .
" In this world, danger never disappears, mysteries have been hidden since ancient times, the history of our ancestors is foggy, this is our life, everyone has to struggle, everyone has desires that reflect their willingness to move forward. "
This was something the little boy already knew, but this man's words, how he put it… it was rather appealing .
As the Cold Man already said, this world contains forgotten curiosities, not to mention legacies and lands bearing whispered epics .
There are also monsters, no one relaxes in front of them, and is that all ?
No, no, if it were just that, wouldn't everything be okay ?
Just humans vs. monsters, it's clear where the enemy is, that gives enough grounds for cooperation .
But there are different races, stronger races, weaker races, they all live and struggle, some rise and rule, some decline and perish .
On some fateful nights, strange phenomena occur, madness comes whispering in the minds of some people, and they become insane .
Danger always comes and never stops, that's how the world used to be .
The boy didn't have the luxury to feel discouraged by the facts, having lived through those dangers himself since he was conscious of the world, it didn't resonate much with his heart .
But he felt drawn to this man's words, and the rare sparkle in his eyes remained .
" That's why you have to become stronger, not just to survive, but to spread your wings. Everyone can have strength. Always remember, there is no such thing as exceptional strength, there are only exceptional people ."
The man reached forward, and a blue flame appeared out of nowhere .
" This power that everyone possesses is called the essence energy. We use it to become stronger, tough in the face of despair, to be unknown by defeat. If we consider the body a river, then the essence energy is the flowing water, and there is the essence heart formed when the power is awakened, which is the outlet. "
Will is what moves the water and draws it out of the stream, and when the energy flows correctly, one calls himself a warrior .
" Now tell me, what are the standards by which one advances in this world of power ?"
The boy stared at him for a moment in silence .
Eey! What question is that, huh? Huh ?
Even a mentally retarded person can answer this, and you're asking me that, eh ?
His silent complaint was met with the man's solemn expression, urging him not to waste time with bullshit and to answer quickly .
The boy answered with a sigh .
Everyone in this world wields a mysterious power, but not everyone can use it due to many circumstances, including the willingness to take risks, the resources and the mental strength to bear it .
First of all, to gain that power, one must survive the awakening ceremony .
These rituals are what makes the essence energy inherent within the body fill with the free will to take on multiple forms, making it possible for the energy to interact with influences outside the body .
There are four main factors to focus on, all of which are connected to each other, each affecting the other, and these factors are interconnected to form multiple branches .
There is talent: which determines the speed of initial growth and high horizons.
Talent has four degrees, and the degree of talent is in turn affected by four factors: willpower, psychological state, the essence energy, and physical ability .
The weapons and tools used in the world: the ego, which is countless, the extent of its limits and even the maximum number of its diversity has not been revealed.
There are also three types of ego: self, nature, life .
The Path: The path is divided into countless styles and falls under its own complexities.
The path has its own unique arts, which are in turn divided into two sides .
The Arts of the Path, which are passed down through books or orally by learning, and there are the memories shards, which are rarer and more dangerous.
not to mention the categories of the Path, which attract compatible essence energy and repel opposing .
Finally, the rank: There are eight ranks in this world, called the eight moons: gray, blue, orange, green, purple, white, black, red .
The developments of the first and second moons are a quantitative change in power, and the one changes radically in the third moon, then there is the swelling of power in the fourth moon, and the most profound change in the fifth moon, the other moons were more mysterious and incomprehensible .
These were the branches of the warrior's power, called the ego warrior .
" Preparing for one's future plans and prospects requires resources and experience itself, so the talent—which is the trigger for walking on this path of power—is not awakened until youth, due to the risks to body and mind. "
The boy's voice was neutral, as if he were saying something boring .
This was unimportant to the boy, as he had already chosen his path of growth and awakened his talent .
His current age was seven, but his talent was awakened at about five, which almost killed him .
" Anyway, that's certainly true, but since we're taking a different approach, many of the failed experiments in the first generation were slaughtered, and only you remained ."
" I'm a little curious, old man ."
"… I'm only in my thirties ."
" Yes? That means you're old. "
"…."
" Why are you staring at me like that… well- aaaaah !"
The boy grabbed his forehead, surprised by the pain .
" You old bastard! You're hitting a child! Assault! This is assault !"
Slab !
He was slapped on the head .
"...."
This time, it was his turn to be silent .
' Ahem, this boy is really strange, where did he learn this way of speaking ?'
For a child who had been subjected to brutal experiments, the boy was indeed strange .
" Old man - I mean coach, I have a sudden question ."
After composing himself and coughing a bit, the boy finally spoke .
" I Accept your question "
" As you already know, I'm standing here alone in the Punishment Meadow because I killed other trainees, who somehow hated me from the start. "
" actually "
They were ominous words for a young child, but the standards of humanity didn't apply in this place to begin with .
The boy committed a massacre, killing the other trainees during a hunting mission, and then suddenly surrendering himself .
It was really strange, but everyone welcomed it, as they had an incomprehensible desire to hurt and destroy him .
The boy was aware of this, but he did it anyway .
The punishment meadow was a place that reduced rationality and caused epileptic seizures and hallucinations, so it was dangerous for children .
Despite their hatred for the boy, his abilities were too great to be wasted, and so this man was brought in to talk to him for one hour a week .
At first, the man and the boy didn't care for each other, but over time, talking together became an enjoyable routine .
" And since I'm the cause of the hate that the coaches pass on to other kids, I find it strange ."
" strange ? "
" You, you don't seem to hate me, why ?"
The boy had been wondering a bit since their first meeting, but he didn't care much .
He didn't feel any urgency about it, and he didn't care if he was hated so much .
The harshness of the place was indeed painful, but that harshness helped him grow faster, why should he care about other people's feelings ?
If those emotions had any benefit, it might have been a different story, but they were just getting in the way, so the boy focused on himself .
After spending a few weeks in this state of boring inactivity, he was looking forward to talking to this man, and curiosity naturally grew .
"… Hmm, thinking about it, I don't know. "
" I expected this, but well, that's a bit unfortunate ."
" Unfortunate ?"
" Of all people, for an old man to talk to me, a child, is so uncomfortable - Aaah !"
The boy grabbed his head again, moaning in pain .
" Humph "
After gloating for a while, the man looked at his watch .
" Time for me to go, bye little boy "
" Yes "
The man walked away from the place, although he didn't show it, this place was making him uncomfortable, that boy's ability to stay sane was simply inhuman .
The man's eyes flickered briefly before he spoke as he walked away .
" Tell me, do you have any desires ?"
The red-eyed boy was surprised by the unexpected question .
But he answered immediately, as if it was only natural .
" Obviously, even animals have desires, let alone me. "
" So that's it ?"
" I live for myself, after all. "
" I'm glad to hear that ."
' Is he became demented?'
The boy thought to himself, but he didn't want to take another hit, so he remained silent .
He had nothing to say, and so, the blue flames rose on the man's body and then flew away .
" Until next time, old man !"
The boy's scream was the last thing he heard before leaving .
interesting person
The boy smiled, his eyes flashing with brilliance .
The mind creates habit, habit creates behavior in the body, and all of this becomes a way of life .
This brief encounter became a part of the boy's life, and he looked forward to meeting them again .
The boy spent the rest of his time reading a book he had stolen from one of his apprentices, training, uncovering the secrets of his path, and fighting the monsters that were sent from time to time .
Some days, hallucinations come, strange voices whisper gently to the boy .
" Hahaha !"
When the boy loses his reason to move forward, he laughs and runs around for no reason .
Bam! Bam! Bam !
" Hahahahaha !!"
Sometimes he hits his head on the ground, wanting the blood to flow, wanting to feel something in that white place .
Neither night comes nor interpretation of time is heard .
Just him .
Alone with himself .
He runs until he can't move, scratching himself to stay conscious .
" Hey, there you are, yes! You! You're funny !"
He stares into the air and then speaks .
No one is there but him, but he sees someone, then follows him and talks to him .
" Do you like nightmares? I don't! Hehehe! But you know what? I've become accustomed to having nightmares every day !"
As if the illusion actually answers him .
" Immersing myself in madness makes me more sane, the more I fall, the easier it is to resist! Yes, you're right, you're not here, hahaha !"
Oh my constant madness, oh my auditory hallucinations, you are what keeps me conscious, so be my companion in this silent void .
Let's open our eyes and wake up !
Roar !
When the monsters come, he turns to them gratefully, to feel their blood and their pieces, to remind what's left of his crazy self that he's still here .
" I want! I am willing! I have this madness with me! Immerse myself in the nightmare! For I fear no death! So come, my beasts brothers! Let us kill each other! Kuwahahaha !"
Only when the environment fell silent did he sit on the pile of scattered corpses, staring at the crimson blood in fascination .
" It was an honor to meet you, but I have to go back! Back to my senses! Hehehe! Kihehe! Goodbye! You eternal madness !"
After the hallucinatory hours, his mind regains its clarity .
He spends hours and hours meditating, trying to understand his constant bouts of madness .
What is the motivation, what drives his insane desires ?
How can he benefit from this? And how can he avoid becoming hollow during this madness ?
Monsters come and die in the struggle .
Whether he is mad or awake .
Always fighting and killing .
The food was inside cans that were implanted in the bodies of these monsters, some of the food was poisoned and some was healthy .
When there is nothing left to do, he falls into a deep sleep .
Then he wakes up, his injured body slightly healed .
The doctors did this every time, depending on the value of his performance, the better the recovery .
That's how time goes .
A week has passed .
The boy sat humming, waiting for the man to come .
But no matter how much time passes, he never comes .
So the day passed, no news of him or even another coach to mock .
It was just meaningless time passing .
The boy didn't need much thought to understand .
There were two possibilities, the man was moved to another location, or he was assassinated .
Without getting an answer, the days passed, and the boy lived a month of the same boring routine .
When a new day came, another person was brought .
He was a handsome man with a hateful look .
His arm clenched around his sword was trembling, as if he was barely stopping himself from pulling the blade out and cutting the boy .
When he saw him, the boy understood that the second option was more likely, which made him feel a bit disappointed .
" Hey, you "
The man stared at the boy who called him .
" The coach who used to come before, why doesn't he come ?"
Why should I tell you ?
The coach wanted to say that, but orders prevented him from answering all the boy's questions .
" He's dead, I can't say more ."
" So that's it ?"
The boy smiled brightly .
" do you know ? "
The coach's teeth chattered at this cursed smile, but he tried to bear it .
An hour ... just an hour and he can leave .
He must bear this distorted desire .
No, not yet, he shouldn't be destroyed yet .
Break the boy, distort his mind and make him despair, it's not time for that yet .
Make him an empty doll, shatter his world, leaving him only a hollow body, but he must not die .
So, he just kept staring at the boy .
" Coach, that old man, I never knew his name ."
" Don't talk about things that aren't worth knowing. You're just a tool, a means we use to achieve our goal. Know your place and stay silent. "
The boy stared at him for a moment before sighing .
" Pathetic, boring and weak "
His words made the coach hate him even more, but he couldn't do anything about the orders .
The boy stretched a little, that was usually the case, so he shouldn't be surprised .
" I really am "
He stared at the white sky, his expression turning cold .
" I hate you all, I hate you so much, you sons of bitches. "
And in The Punishment Meadow, since that day, the boy never spoke again .
Someone else left the boy .
Long time ago, and still .
That's how it's always been .
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Whoosh ~
The breeze gently touched the young boy's skin, and he couldn't help but inhale with a smile .
The huge ship was damaged, but not to the point of sinking into the sea .
In front of the young man was the destination, which was a huge island .
The young man's eyes were red, dark as blood, and his hair was as black as darkness .
His slightly dark skin was obvious, making anyone who saw him realize that he was not a nobleman, as these people were distinguished by their pure white skin .
" The Moon Island, the place that is not intertwined with other nations or subject to them, you all, who have built an academy that accepts everyone, you, who have made your own laws, my sovereignty is coming to you, for with my coming, the hour has come for time to move towards its course. "
The student's uniform told the story of why he boarded this ship .
He was headed to enroll in this island academy, whose name had remained unchanged since its founding: Moonlight Academy .
" Of course, there is nothing I can learn from just an educational institution, and my goal was not really to learn anything from there ."
For him, the most they could teach was just a few things about their tribes' customs and history, and even that could be learned with some individual effort .
However, after going through a disastrous storm, all passengers survived .
On the roof, there was only the young man, the rest were inside, whether out of terror or precaution, it didn't matter .
As powerful as the Ego warriors were, natural disasters had their own tremendous power, and were not just minor disasters .
As for this storm, it could be said, even the Fourth Moon Warrior couldn't survive without sacrificing an arm or two .
However, despite the danger, the young man wasn't too worried .
At worst, he'll have to swim to a reef he knows near this area and fight wild fish to get there, but it's better than facing that storm .
The rest of the passengers ?
Well, he didn't care much about their fate .
Things didn't get that far though .
The young man's eyes flashed as he remembered a certain person, the distinctive white hair and the enchanting eyes, the intermingling of violet and blue in those eyes was definitely not usual .
The passengers survived for two reasons: the ship itself, and everyone being led by a specific person .
The massive ship was indeed an Ego, a Defense-type Ego to be specific, requiring massive resources to move, and the durability of this ship was worth the extravagance .
This is precisely why anxiety was not so mind-consuming .
As for who led all these people …
" excuse me? "
A sweet voice entered the young man's ears, and he stared at the caller .
" ya? "
The first thing that caught the young man's attention were those captivating eyes .
The fusion of violet and blue in each eye was a beautiful sight, each blink arousing it, illuminating the slightly white lashes, not to mention that ethereal light .
She has white hair, reminiscent of the last snows of winter, swaying in the passing breeze .
The slight smile made the dazzling artwork pleasing to the artist, begging for a chance to paint his finest creation of this enchanting scene .
The girl's clothes in front of the seated young man were the same as his own, but the elaborate decorations of the outfit indicated her high status .
These dazzling inscriptions literally screamed: Look at me, peasants !
The only place on the entire continent that bore these inscriptions and was proud of them was in the opposite direction of the ship's course .
" She's from the East, those distinctive eyes, she's no doubt the daughter of that merchant family ."
The young man didn't speak, but stared at the girl with interest .
Instead of feeling upset or uncomfortable, the girl returned the same look .
Considering the young man's mature sentiment, there was something off-putting about him .
His stare with those dark eyes seemed sarcastic, as if everything wasn't that valuable .
Instead of contempt, it was more like disinterest .
The girl wasn't arrogant about herself, but her status always caused people to resent her .
It was only logical that if a king of a country approached her, she would find herself feeling uncomfortable in turn .
But the young man's expression here didn't change that much, just pure curiosity, nothing more .
" What do you want, kid? "
Suddenly the young man said with a light laugh .
... what did he say now ?
The girl blinked slightly, wondering what he had said with her eyes .
But he did not answer, and in return the girl sighed, overcoming the initial shock .
The young girl was an important figure in one of the eastern empires, Cairo, and was the daughter of a large merchant family .
This means that she is very blue-blooded .
Anyway, this person in front of her was wearing the same school uniform, so they were supposed to be the same age, so saying she was kid wasn't true .
Is it provocation ?
No, his tone was devoid of any sarcasm or attempt to stir up trouble .
So this means -
Click !
" Ouch !"
" You're so absent-minded, what bullshit is going through your head ?"
A frown crossed her lips naturally, and she wondered what kind of treatment this young man was giving to someone he was meeting for the first time .
"… Isn't that a bit rude to an innocent lady ?"
" actually "
" Then we'd better deal with it better- "
" But where is she ?"
" What ? "
" The Lady, I don't see her ."
"…."
" Anyway, kid, it's nice to meet you, but what do you want from My majesty? I wouldn't blame you though, My Majesty and my handsome are worth the risk to see, after all !"
"…."
The bullshit he was spouting left her speechless .
" By the way, my name is Leon, Leon Evenus. "
With a bright smile, young Leon extended his hand .
Unconsciously, the young woman extended her hand to shake hands in return .
Her response was barely late .
"… Lilith Kronos "
The waves gently crashed against the massive ship, giving the rising sounds a soothing rhythm .
The remnants of the wind whispered softly, before its traces disappeared .
The soft lights cast shadows on the young man and woman, as if the world were pale in comparison .
After the journey of imminent destruction, the cries of despair ended, and only a silent realization remained in the hearts .
Witnessing a new dawn, the mind understands and the heart appreciates .
They didn't die .
The black-haired young man smiled calmly towards the white-haired girl in front of him, his crimson eyes flashing with interest .
From ancient times, to the present times, and into the unknown future times, conflict has always been ambiguous .
Dark secrets and false truths begin to crack, letting chaos take its course .
" Blood, then blood, The Blood was the cure for my thirst, for the pursuit of my deepest desires. Yesterday, the nightmare was my guide, today the hollow moon is my guide. "
Oh you who have been hollow since time immemorial, stand firm and witness my journey.
breaking the illusions of the world is my goal, no one has refuge or safety .
After struggling for days and years, the young man was here, heading to his new homeland, where frozen time returns to movement .
After letting go of Lilith's hand, Leon lay down on the floor of the ship .
" Hey, Kid, I have a question, do you hate nightmares ?"
" What is this random question ?"
" Answer quickly "
Lilith sighed, but thought for a moment .
" As far as I know, no one likes nightmares, so my answer is yes ."
" actually "
Leon closed his eyes with a slight smile .
" I actually love them ."
Somehow, since those days, my habits have come together to create my lifestyle .
Instead of getting used to not being affected .
I became attracted to the dark world .
That made me want to choose to walk that path .
That's why .
" I love nightmares "