POV: Matías Castleboard
Ever since the new regime was implemented, every so often, an opportunity was given to those who had nothing—to rise in rank. It was all designed with a single goal in mind: to control the population by giving them an idol to follow.
That idol was someone just like them. A peasant. A man with nothing, who had lost everything. Forced to descend the evolutionary ladder and return to the oldest job known to humanity.
"Working for money is a desire for freedom," I whispered, gripping the hilt of my sword tightly. "But being a slave to it your whole life... that can only be called a sentence."
From the other side of the door, I could hear the crowd's anxious screams. They were hungry for the blood-soaked spectacle that was about to begin. For them, it was a show of hope. For us, it was just another reminder that we were all drowning in our own madness.
"Don't be scared, little boy," one of the participants sneered, walking toward me with arrogance. "If you let me win, I promise I won't kill you. Try to survive… though I doubt you'll manage."
I stayed silent. I began to stretch, preparing my body for when the door opened. I only hoped that the suffocating fire and flickering torches weren't the only things lighting up the dark hallway.
And then, the horn sounded:
"Attention, everyone. Today, we celebrate what you've all been waiting for: the day when someone from the very bottom of this hopeless world becomes the light that guides our nation."
"Each warrior has undergone brutal training, bleeding from the very depths of their soul to become the perfect fighter. A true Champion!"
The crowd roared in excitement after those words. That was the signal. The gates opened, and the slaughter was about to begin.
When the light touched my face, blinding me for a moment, I knew there was no turning back. This was it. My only chance to protect my family. To give them safety. I had promised my father… and I would keep that promise.
I clenched my jaw and started walking, followed by the other participants. Like me, they were here to test their luck with a new destiny. No one was forced to fight… but everyone was forced to suffer.
As I stepped fully out of the hallway, the sunlight and the screams of the crowd left me stunned. I froze, turned to stone, while the others marched toward their doom.
I looked around.
People were laughing, crying, placing bets… and in the stands, I saw my family—completely shattered by my decision.
I lowered my gaze, trying to block out the memories, but the images in my head kept flashing relentlessly.
Blood… blood… death.
"No!" I screamed. This wasn't the time to fall. I had already done that once—and I still remembered the helplessness of not being strong enough.
Voice of the announcer:
"Dear citizens of Taured, we are seconds away from the main event. Please be advised: do not interfere in the fight. You may only observe. Any interference… and you will be considered a participant."
"With that clear… let the selection of our Champion begin!"
"Five!" The countdown started, followed by the wild cheers of the crowd.
"Four!" I tightened my grip on my sword, stepping into position. With my free hand, I clutched my father's necklace—the one that had stayed with me through everything.
"Three!... Two!" I knew I had to kill. This wasn't just a match—it was life or death.
"One!" The screaming exploded. And then, it all began.
"Let the battle… begin!"
As soon as the announcer finished, all the participants lunged forward, each choosing a target. Apparently, I was the easiest one.
More than half of them had formed a temporary alliance. They closed in dangerously, blades raised, determined to cut me down no matter what.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
My hand, steady on my weapon, moved into a defensive stance—ready to block the first strike.
"If you don't want to die in agony, kid, you'd better stay still," one of the attackers snarled, lowering the blade of his weapon dangerously close to my neck.
I never cared what others thought of me. In the end, actions speak louder than empty words.
Before the blade could reach me, I blocked the attack with lightning speed. The clash of metal rang out between us, and as I locked eyes with my opponent, the sparks flying from our swords ignited a rush of adrenaline through my veins.
Without hesitation, I kicked him in the stomach, sending him stumbling backward.
I exhaled slowly.
Three more were rushing toward me. No plan, no formation—just raw bloodlust. While they only thought of killing, my mind was already searching for a way out.
I dashed toward the man who had attacked me first. Sliding across the dirt, I slashed at his ankles with my blade, severing his tendons. He collapsed, unable to move.
"Bastard!" he screamed, coughing up blood. "Let me go, you—"
His words were cut short.
A cluster of blades pierced through him, impaling his body like it was made of paper. The other participants hadn't stopped in time, and I had used him as a shield—sacrificing him to trap their weapons in his corpse.
"W-What the…?" one of them stammered, struggling to pull his sword free. "What are you…?"
"Someone who wants to survive," I whispered. "You won't."
In a flash, I used their confusion. I slipped between them and slashed their throats with swift, calculated strikes. Blood spilled across the arena floor. One of the commanders watching from the top of the coliseum stared down, stunned.
We went from presidents to tyrants. Times change.
People only adapt to their desires,longing for freedom without chains—even if it means forging new ones.
I narrowed my eyes, staring straight into the rotted soul of the man who ruled this part of Europe. He met my gaze… and smiled. A smile steeped in pure malice.
I wiped my blade against the dirt, returning my focus to the battlefield. I could feel the weight of powerful families watching me now. This... was my moment.
I've been preparing for this for a long time, I thought.
That's when I saw the same man who had spoken to me earlier in the hallway get crushed—brutally—by a massive warrior wielding a giant hammer.
The crack of his bones echoed. Blood sprayed through the air, staining my face.
But I had already chosen my next target.
I sprinted toward him, snatching up another blade from a fallen fighter along the way. Now I had two weapons in my hands—both ready to pierce the flesh of the giant.
The problem with being too largeis that balance and agilityare left in the hands of your enemy…if they know how to play their cards right.
"You'll die!" the giant roared, slamming his hammer toward the ground. "Filthy insect!"
As the weapon struck, I took advantage of his lack of mobility. I slid beneath his swing and drove both swords deep into his abdomen, feeling the flesh tear bit by bit.
It was revolting. Disturbing to the core. But what chilled me more was his twisted smile… even as blood poured from his wounds.
"You really think you'll kill me?" he laughed, dropping his weapon. "Let's see how deadly you are without your swords. Show me if you're stronger than I am."
No… I'm not, I thought. But if there's one thing I've learned through all of this… it's that no matter the hardship, I have to keep standing.
I tore the necklace from around my neck, wrapping it tightly around my hand. The crystal at the end became an improvised dagger. Invisible. Deadly.
Without hesitation, I charged again. He swung, but I dodged, slipping behind him. I jumped, grabbing onto one of the armor plates strapped to his back.
It struck me as odd—he was the only one with high-grade armor. That could only mean one thing: powerful families had bet on him, giving him every possible advantage… but it wouldn't be enough.
I used his armor as leverage and launched myself high into the air. In that fleeting moment, I flew.
And I saw his eyes—confused, disoriented. The look of a man who never imagined he would lose.
Then… he fell.
A mere mortal had brought him down. Someone who seemed beneath him—yet proved that greatness isn't always visible to the eye.
I pulled the quartz shard from the giant's skull.
And what greeted me were thunderous cheers.
To them, I was a bloodstained hope.A life condemned by sin.And eventually… the perfect scapegoat if things went wrong.
"We kindly ask all present to stand," the announcer declared. "Our king, the supreme leader of our nation, is about to address you."
The crowd obeyed without hesitation. The lights of the coliseum went out, plunging everything into darkness, only to flare back to life—now shining directly on the lone figure standing at the highest point.
His eyes were full of hatred and bitterness… but there was also a trace of satisfaction.
"Today, in the long arc of our history," he began with a deep, commanding voice, "something has happened that hasn't occurred in years: a miracle."
From the balconies, flowers began to rain down toward me. Slowly. Gracefully. The crowd's deafening applause and shouts filled the air. They repeated the leader's words as if reciting scripture.
A living miracle.That's what I had become—at least in their eyes.
They believed in their leader with blind faith.
I, on the other hand, sank deeper into the void.Walking alone, face to face with the abyss inside me.
And then… I saw her.
My mother's gaze.
Seeing her from afar shattered something in me.Her tears weren't of joy—they were for me.I had crossed a line… one I might never return from.
My sister rushed to her side.I could read her lips:
"My brother is a monster."
A single tear slipped down my cheek.
I turned my eyes toward the nation's corrupt leader—surrounded by other powerful figures, no doubt already plotting how to use me as their next pawn.
POV: Kael Lanpar
My mind and my eyes were still spinning from the memory I had just experienced.
Even though I knew my past… even though I knew what I'd done…somehow, it was already starting to fade.
And that should've been a relief.If only I remembered living it at all.
"Kael, are you alright?" It was my grandfather's voice. "Wake up, kid! Don't scare me like this, please…"
My body reacted instantly. I jolted upright, panting, sitting on the ground with blood-covered hands pressing into soft grass.
"Where… am I? What happened? Why…?"I couldn't finish the question.
The stench hit me like a punch to the gut. Metallic. Rotten.
My eyes instinctively followed the source of that sickening smell.
Impaled bodies.Wolf-like creatures.Mangled. Torn apart.
"Kal, you don't remember anything?" my grandfather cried, kneeling beside me."You just massacred a pack of wolves… with your bare hands."
Tears welled in my eyes.I recognized them.
They were the same wolves that had accompanied us on our journey. The same pack.
My grandfather's words echoed in my mind. And somehow, deep inside, I knew he was telling the truth.
"And Airis… where is she?" I asked, swallowing hard. Dreading the answer.
"Kal… you…" he muttered, looking away."Do you seriously not remember anything?"
I turned my head.
What I saw broke me.
Airis was leaning against a tree.A massive bandage wrapped around her torso, soaked in blood.
"What have I done…?" I whispered.I dug my nails into my palms, trying to convince myself I didn't hurt her. That he hadn't come back.I was supposed to be free from him.
"Why are you still here?!" I screamed."Get out of my head! Leave already! Just die!"
"Kal!" my grandfather whispered, trying to reach me.
But his attempt failed.
Astral magic activated on its own, creating a swirling dome of wind around me.Its sharp edges cut him the moment he got close.
The leaves on the ground swirled into the air.Cracks began to spread.The wind howled like a beast, uprooting trees and tearing the world apart as it surged toward me.
I closed my eyes.
Resigned to be punished for my sins.
I saw my grandfather activate his crystal armor, desperate to reach me…But I don't know if he made it.
I only felt the impact.And then… nothing but darkness.
I feel as if my past life was never mine to begin with.
As if I'm just the reflection of someone else's memory.A borrowed echo.A ghost bearing sin.A soul… revealing innocence.