Noah jolted upright, hand flying to his chest. The gaping wound he’d suffered was gone, replaced by a strange hollowness. Before he could grapple with this relief, a more horrifying sight drew his attention: his home, once his sanctuary, now consumed by spiraling flames.

  “No, no…” he choked out, scrambling to his feet as heat battered against his skin. Panic and disbelief warred inside him, the world spinning with ruin.

  A soft, mocking voice cut through the crackling inferno. “Don’t bother, young Fafnir.” A boy stood amid the flames, his robe shimmering like liquid starlight. “Your parents are dead, and Isaac is long gone. There’s nothing left for you to save.”

  Noah stiffened, grief mingling with fury. “Who are you?” he demanded, voice unsteady yet determined.

  An enigmatic smile curved the boy’s lips. “You may call me Lux—the God of Hope. And you, Noah, are destined to be this era’s hero, the one who will stand against the coming apocalypse.”

  Despite the chaotic blaze, Lux’s presence felt oddly serene, offering a small glow in the darkness. Yet his next words held a teasing edge. “How blasphemous! I don’t see a cross around your neck,” Lux lamented, his tone dripping with mock disappointment. “I’m the only god with an established church, and you, of all heroes, are the first not actively to worship me. I must admit, it saddens me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Noah replied, his voice strained, “but I didn’t think to wear it while hunting. I didn’t want it to get dirty.”

  “Ah, I take no offense to my emblem getting sullied. Hope shines brightest when cloaked in despair,” Lux mused, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.

  Noah frowned, still reeling from the surrounding devastation. “Why choose me? I’m sick and powerless. I don’t even have an ability.”

  “Of course you do,” Lux replied, stepping closer. He brushed his fingertips against the dark splotches on Noah’s arm. “It’s called The Ladybug. It absorbs the suffering of those around you, storing that burden in your own body. Your land prospered because of it—at the cost of your health.”

  Tears blurred Noah’s vision. “So, I’ve been helping everyone this entire time…I’m glad I could be of use.”

  Lux’s tone softened into admiration. “You’re proving to be the perfect candidate. But I’ve made a small adjustment to your ability so it won’t kill you outright. Now, hold out your arm and focus your mana into those spots.”

  Swallowing his apprehension, Noah obeyed. A surge of darkness crackled from his arm, tearing through the air and pulverizing a distant tree in a splintering explosion.

  “I—I did that?” Noah stammered, equal parts awe and longing twisting in his chest. If he’d only possessed such power earlier…

  Lux caught the shift in his expression. “Don’t flatter yourself. Even now, you wouldn’t stand a chance against The Crows. Mastering this ability requires time and training. But at least you’re no longer entirely useless,” he added, a touch of pride coloring his voice.

  Tears blurred Noah’s vision as he recalled the massacre of his family’s home. “I can’t let it end like this,” he whispered, forcing himself to his feet despite the lingering fatigue.

  Lux gave a theatrical sigh. “What a troublesome hero I’ve chosen. I’ll keep watch—no point in letting you die again so soon.”

  Meanwhile, beyond the forest, Inari trudged back toward Blank, head bowed. “I’m sorry, sir,” he muttered. “The kid escaped.”

  Blank’s expression darkened. “I should’ve brought every commander. This was crucial.”

  “They each have their…quirks,” Inari offered, attempting to ease the tension. “You’re lucky Faker cooperated as much as he did.”

  Blank exhaled, nodding. “True enough. At least we stopped that god from getting a new hero. That alone is worth something.”

  A faint smirk crossed Inari’s face. “I’ll check on Labyrinth. I bet she’s on the verge of tears over that corpse.”

  He left, finding Faker sitting outside, bored and idly running his fingers through the grass while Labyrinth hovered nearby, her tears reflecting off the lifeless body of Noah’s father before her. Moments later, Blank joined them, carrying the unconscious form of Isabelle in his arms.

  “It’s time to move,” Blank ordered, his gaze sweeping the scene with cool finality. “Faker, grab the corpse. Lupin will appreciate his new meal.”

  A bolt of darkness ripped through the air, striking Blank’s leg and severing it with a sickening crack. He staggered, irritation twisting his features as the wound healed in an instant.

  “Who dares—?” he snarled, scanning the ruins, fury igniting in his eyes.

  “I won’t let you get away!” Noah shouted, raw emotion fueling a crackling mass of dark energy in his palms. Memories of his own helplessness burned like an open wound, driving his attack.

  Blank sneered, yanking Isabelle forward to use her as a human shield. “One more move, and your sister suffers. I’d hate to damage the merchandise.”

  “No! You bastard!” Noah cried, voice thick with anguish. Fury tore at his chest, each ragged breath a reminder of what he’d lost.

  Blank’s tone hardened into icy disinterest. “I’m not in the mood to kill a brat who’s already died once. Nor to face one of the five primordial gods. Let’s end this now. I’m sure we’ll meet again… Fafnir’s failure.”

  He gestured for Labyrinth to open a portal. Despite her trembling, she summoned a swirling vortex. One by one, the Crows vanished into its depths.

  At the threshold, Blank glanced back. “I look forward to your second death.”

  “No matter where you go, I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the world!” Noah yelled, his voice breaking with emotion, raw and unyielding. “I’ll kill each and every one of you! I promise you that!” But as Blank and his crows vanished into the portal, Noah felt a hollowness settle within him, the weight of his words almost too much to bear.

  “Mom, I need to check on Mom!” Noah cried out, desperation clawing at his throat as he raced back into the house, fear propelling him forward.

  “That boy… so full of energy,” Lux murmured, shaking his head with a hint of admiration tinged with sadness.

  Inside, Noah collapsed by his mother’s body, tears carving paths down his cheeks. The stench of smoke and blood choked the air.

  “Lux? I have a question,” Noah's voice trembled as he looked up, eyes glistening with grief and fury. “Is it wrong for a hero to be filled with such an intense desire to kill? An even greater desire than to save others?”

  Lux placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Your rage is natural. Let it fuel you. Remember what they’ve taken.”

  Noah’s nails dug into his palms, the pain grounding him. “I will,” he vowed, voice rough with sorrow and determination. “I’ll never forget.”

  Noah sat on the floor, fists clenched, eyes distant and hollow. The destruction around him felt surreal, yet the devastation was all too real. Lux leaned against a cracked wall, elegant despite the wreckage. His hair fell over a face that held both calculation and a startling hint of gentleness. Slowly, he drew a silver watch from his pocket, the steady ticking echoing through the heavy silence.

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  “We need to move,” Lux said, voice quiet but resolute. “We have people to meet. However, I’ll help you bury the dead first.”

  “Thank you,” Noah whispered, meeting Lux’s gaze with grief-ridden eyes.

  Lux snapped his fingers, releasing a gentle glow. One by one, the bodies vanished, reappearing outside in newly formed graves. Stepping into the open air, Lux bowed his head. “May the Lord of the Spirit Realm welcome you into his embrace.”

  “A god praying to another god?” Noah murmured, surprise creeping into his voice.

  Lux offered a small, thoughtful smile. “It’s just respect. He’s a close friend of mine.” A fleeting solemnity crossed his features, allowing Noah a glimpse of the complexities beneath his calm demeanor.

  Drawing in a steadying breath, Noah rose, renewed resolve flickering in his eyes. “Thank you…for everything.”

  Lux waved off the thanks. “There’s a journey ahead. We can’t stay here.”

  “Where are we going?” Noah asked, bracing himself.

  “The Starbell territory,” Lux replied. “We’ll meet an ally on the way. If all goes well, it should help us both.”

  Noah’s face brightened. “Ava might be there,” he said, voice tinged with cautious hope. “It’s been too long.”

  Lux arched an eyebrow. “For an arranged marriage, you seem quite invested.”

  A faint blush touched Noah’s cheeks. “It was the one arrangement I never had to force myself to accept.”

  Lux pushed away from the wall. “Then let’s not waste time. Your path—twisted as it may be—is only beginning.”

  “Allow me to explain a few things, young hero,” Lux began, his tone both instructive and measured. “In this world, there are countless lesser gods—figures who achieved divinity through great feats and earned the people's adoration. But beyond them are five primordials, the origin gods, distinct from the old-world deities. Besides the old-world deities, we are the oldest, having existed since the beginning of this world.

  “First is the God of Hope, myself. Next, the Lord of the Spirit Realm. He rules over the afterlife. Then comes The End, the very embodiment of death. After him stands our enemy, known to you mortals as the Man in White—the God of Survival, whose sole ambition is to be the last survivor, to erase all life, and to obliterate the Game Master. The Game Master is the fifth primordial, the most ancient of all. Both he and the Man in White have existed since the era of the old gods—I can't say what truly transpired back then.”

  Noah’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Is it even possible to kill him?”

  Lux sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. “I’ve tried, but I haven’t succeeded. His power isn’t meant for combat. So by thwarting each era’s apocalypse, we can at least hold him at bay for a while.”

  Noah’s grip tightened, resolve blazing in his gaze. “I’ll be the one to finally stop him—I promise.”

  A wry smile tugged at Lux’s lips as he teased, “Nearly every hero has said that. Besides the Emperor, they’re all six feet under.”

  The forest air was thick with tension as Noah and Lux moved silently through the shadows. Every step was deliberate, every strike precise—Noah’s sword flashed with dark energy as he cleaved through monstrous foes. Slimes exploded into wisps of shadow, while insectoid creatures writhed in their final moments beneath his relentless assault. With each swing, the dark power surged within him, fueling his strength and sharpening his reflexes.

  “The more I channel this energy, the lighter I feel,” Noah remarked, a thrill of excitement threading through his voice as he dispatched yet another foe.

  Lux leaned casually against a gnarled tree, his eyes following Noah’s fluid movements with mild interest. “Enjoy it while you can,” he warned. “Your dark energy is not infinite—it drains with each use. You can replenish it by absorbing the misfortune of others, but that comes at a cost,” he added, nodding toward the fading black spots on Noah’s arm.

  Undeterred, Noah pressed on, his swordsmanship growing sharper and more confident. Just as he prepared to strike down another slime, it paused, its gelatinous form rippling. Slowly, it coalesced into the shape of a young man: eyes blazing crimson like a lion’s glare, silver hair cascading over his shoulders, and three bold, dark markings etched on each cheek. A regal red coat trimmed with fur completed his formidable appearance.

  With a graceful gesture, the figure raised his hand, halting Noah’s blade mid-swing. His face, contorted with simmering anger, bore a piercing glare.

  “Such audacity,” he snarled in a low, menacing growl. “An insolent human, slashing my creatures as if they were mere obstacles.”

  Startled, Noah staggered back, his heart pounding. “Who… who are you?” he managed, tightening his grip on his sword.

  The silver-haired figure’s eyes narrowed. “I am Sicil—the God of Monsters, the true lord of this forest,” he declared with cold contempt. Leaning in, his fierce gaze locked onto Noah’s. “You’ve invaded my realm, slaughtering my subjects without a second thought.”

  Noah gritted his teeth, his body taut with tension. “They attacked first. I’m not here to start trouble,” he insisted, though his voice wavered between resolve and fear.

  Sicil scoffed, fury blazing in his eyes. “In my forest, no creature is disposable—they’re all under my protection.” With a swift motion, he shoved Noah’s sword aside, sending him stumbling backward.

  “Then what of the Crows who ravaged my family and decimated the Eldenwood territory? Where was your divine retribution?” Noah demanded.

  Sicil’s gaze hardened. “You’re right—I should have dealt with those invaders. But that hunt is for another day.”

  At that moment, Lux stepped forward, his calm presence a stark counterpoint to the mounting tension. Meeting Sicil’s hostile stare with a faint, knowing smile, he said, “Sicil, it’s been a while since I… helped you kill your mother. I’d like to collect on that favor.”

  Sicil’s crimson eyes narrowed further, his tone dripping venom. “You forced me to do that, Lux—so I wouldn’t die.”

  Lux’s smile widened, unfazed by the fury in Sicil’s voice. “True, I did. But come now, Sicil—could you not have resisted, like your sibling Oz did? And look, Oz is still alive. What’s done is done. You’re stronger for it, aren’t you?”

  Sicil’s voice dropped to a dangerous edge. “I despise you, you bastard. You forced me to kill my own mother, and now you act as if it were a favor?”

  Lux’s gaze remained steady. “She was an Apocalypse—an entity destined to bring ruin. Her death was necessary for this world’s survival. Remember your place, Sicil. You’re a lesser god; I am primordial. The disparity in power is vast, so choose your battles wisely.”

  Sicil clenched his jaw, then, after a long, tense pause, he finally asked, “What do you want?”

  Lux glanced at Noah, dismissing Sicil’s bitter tone. “This kid needs a trainer. He has promise, but frankly, he’s the weakest hero I’ve taken on. As part of your debt, I want you to whip him into shape.”

  Sicil let out a short, mirthless laugh. “Train him? Lux, I’m busy keeping the Crows and the Black Witch’s schemes in check. She’s crowned herself queen over those wretched creatures, the black mist—she’s no easy opponent.” He fixed his gaze on Noah, his eyebrow arching in appraisal. “Listen up, kid: your first assignment is to go hunt the Black Witch. Survive that, and maybe you’ll earn my respect.”

  Noah blinked, stunned. “That’s my training?”

  Lux chuckled, an amused glint in his eyes. “Good enough for me. She’ll be a formidable foe—if you don’t mind risking your life.”

  Sicil muttered, “I’d suggest finding allies first,” casting Noah a dubious glance.

  “Oh, and do try to live, would you?” Lux added with a smirk, clearly unfazed by the trepidation in Noah’s eyes.

  “How am I supposed to fight an enemy even a god can’t defeat?” Noah asked, frustration lacing his tone.

  Sicil shook his head and sighed. “It’s not that I can’t kill her, Noah. The real problem is her territory—she’s erected a barrier designed specifically to keep even me at bay.”

  Noah’s brow furrowed as he searched for answers. “You mentioned the Crows… is she working with them?”

  Sicil’s gaze darkened. “More than that. They’re business partners, tangled in a blood trade that only makes her stronger. She commands creatures called the Black Mist—vicious, almost living slime that feasts on blood and reproduces from it. For most, they’re deadly. But some… they’re what we call King’s Candidates. Right now, she’s the most powerful among them, ruling her brood like a twisted queen.”

  Noah’s expression twisted in disgust. “And the Crows? What’s their role in all this?”

  “They supply her with corpses,” Sicil replied, his voice a blend of anger and resignation. “More bodies mean more nourishment for her creatures, more soldiers at her command. Each body delivered to her fortress strengthens her power.”

  Noah’s fists clenched, determination igniting in his eyes. “They’re monsters, both of them. I’ll stop them—no matter what it takes.”

  Sicil’s expression softened ever so slightly, almost impressed. “Bold words for a new hero. Good luck with that, newbie.”

  Noah then turned to Lux, purpose flickering in his gaze. “Lux, let’s head to town. I’d like to see Ava before I start this.”

  Lux smirked and folded his arms as he leaned casually against a tree. “Ah, one last kiss with your lover before you charge into certain doom. How poetic.”

  “Don’t tease me,” Noah muttered, cheeks flushing despite his resolve.

  With a playful chuckle, Lux straightened up. “Alright, let’s go see your lady. After all, every hero’s journey deserves a proper send-off.”

  Noah navigated the winding paths until they arrived in Marim—the vibrant heart of Starbell territory—where his destiny awaited.