The girl stirred.
Her eyes fluttered open, confused and shaky. She touched her chest where a glowing symbol pulsed softly—like a mark burned into her soul.
"What… is this symbol?" she whispered, voice trembling.
She turned and saw him—collapsed on the blackened ground, scythe beside him, barely breathing.
Before she could take a step, a cold mist rolled in and swallowed her whole. Her figure vanished into the fog.
But in that moment…
A vision came.
The MC stood in a field of corpses. Endless. Silent. Dead eyes stared up at a red sky.
A shadowy version of himself stood ahead—taller, darker, holding a crimson scythe that pulsed like a heartbeat.
A voice echoed, broken and strange:
"Devour…"
He didn't know what it meant, but the word sank into his bones. He reached out—
—and woke up with a gasp.
Pain laced through every limb. His chest felt like it had been ripped open. His breath came slow and sharp.
He forced his eyes open. The world spun—red and ash clouded his vision. Smoke curled in the air, and spirit bodies flickered like dying flames.
"What… happened?"
> [Proto-Evolution Complete. You've awakened: Sin-Forged Core]
[Bonus Item Received: Hellbrand Shard]
[Warning: Soul Instability Detected]
[Soul Link Established: Unknown Female]
Morrígan's voice echoed softly in his mind.
"This power… it's rare. Tied to your Reaper path. The Sin-Forged Core feeds on fear and rage. Strong—dangerous."
He looked at his hand. Black-red flames danced across his skin—then vanished in a puff of smoke.
He felt… heavier. Stronger. But broken. Like his soul was cracking from the inside.
"What's the cost?" he muttered.
Morrígan didn't lie.
"If you use it too much, it will burn you alive. Lose control, and your soul will tear itself apart."
He groaned. "Of course."
He turned toward where the girl had been—but she was gone.
No trail. No blood. No sword. Just the warmth in the air… and a dull ache in his chest.
"She's soulbound to you now," Morrígan said calmly. "You'll meet her again."
He ignored it for now.
A flicker of red caught his eye.
A jagged shard hovered in the air, pulsing with heat.
> [You have obtained: Hellbrand Shard]
[Key to Evolution]
Morrígan explained, "This shard is a key. To reach the next realm—Outer Ring Realm Mid-Step—you'll need to use this… and 1000 Soul Points."
The MC stepped closer, holding the shard up.
"It looks like a blood crystal…"
The shard hummed in his hand. A sharp pulse ran through his arm—but then settled.
Suddenly—
A warning rang in his mind.
> [Main Mission Activated]
Collect: 1000 Soul Points
Time Limit: None
Reward: Hidden
Morrígan's voice was sharp. "Some of the spirits you hurt earlier… they're coming back. And they've brought others."
Low growls rose from the shadows.
Faint, broken spirits began to crawl from the scorched earth. Dozens of them. Wounded, weak—but swarming like hungry ghosts.
The MC stood tall. Blood still stained his robes, but his grip tightened on his scythe.
"I'm not the same as before."
The spirits rushed him—clawing, screaming.
He moved like a shadow—scythe sweeping wide, black flames trailing every strike. The Sin-Forged Core inside him pulsed harder, feeding on the fear and pain of the spirits.
Each soul shattered into points—numbers ticking in his mind.
> +4 Soul Points
+6 Soul Points
+9 Soul Points
Total: 89/1000
But then…
High above, on a cliff wrapped in thick darkness, a figure appeared.
Tall. Cloaked in shadows. Horned.
Its eyes glowed like burning stars.
It didn't speak.
It just watched.
And smiled.
Cold. Slow. Silent.
Then it vanished.
Even Morrígan sounded uneasy. "Something powerful… is watching."
The MC wiped blood from his mouth, breathing heavy, still sore—but alive.
And evolving.
> [Main Mission Continues…]
Collect 1000 Soul Points.
Time Limit: None.
Reward: Hidden.
He looked at the path ahead.
Twisted trees. Crimson fog. More souls to reap.
He grinned, voice low.
"Time to hunt."
With his scythe in hand and a fire in his soul, he stepped into the mist once more.