Chapter 4: Eclipse Of Destiny (1)
"Wow, what a mess…."
Inside the dimly light room, I opened my eyes only to see a familiar ceiling.
The headache assaulted me, and my eyes felt sore. The tears had already formed all around, ready to drop.
/YAWN/
"I played for too long," I mumbled to myself, feeling the tears in my eyes. It was a pretty normal reaction considering the fact that I played the game all night.
My body screamed at me to sleep more. It was saying three hours of sleep was nowhere enough to be enough.
My eyelids were eager to close once again, ready to sleep once more.
"But I can't miss today's lecture." However, I needed to wake up since I was on the verge of failing the class, thanks to the attendance.
Yes, it was thanks to the attendance, not because of my grades.
"Fuck. Why do they need to make attendance mandatory!" I cursed, remembering that attendance was mandatory for the class. "The professor can't even speak, but they want us to attend the classes."
Swearing to the school department, I dragged my body from the bed and stood up, feeling the weight of exhaustion in every step.
Though I was an avid gamer, I did my best to maintain some semblance of cleanliness in both my living space and personal hygiene. However, the lack of exercise was becoming evident as a few extra pounds clung to my waistline.
'Sigh… I really neglected my training a bit much.'
Well, the mid-terms had just ended, and I was busy fulfilling my game addiction, so it was quite acceptable for this to happen. It was also because of my diet, but let's not talk about it.
Thinking to myself, I entered the bathroom to take a shower to get rid of drowsiness.
And, then, after ten minutes, bam.
I was ready to leave the house.
In a sense, that was how most men did their daily routine, wasn't it?
And it is not like I was trying my best to look too good, either. I mean, why would I? I certainly don't need a girlfriend.
It is a waste of time….
Some of you might be saying this is what losers say.
That might be true, or maybe not.
I mean, if I liked someone, then I would want to get their attention, but sadly I didn't. Maybe my interests didn't meet the girls I met or some other reasons, but in the end, I didn't have a girlfriend after I broke up with the last one.
So, why force it?
Anyway, I just grabbed a T-shirt and shorts. Then, just like that, I left the room, grabbing my bag containing my laptop and notes.
'I guess I can at least revise the subjects of the past lessons in the lecture.' With that thought, I hurried my steps to reach the college building.
******
In a way, what is the most tiring thing for a student to do in the morning?
It is public transportation. It is filled with a lot of people ranging from high schoolers, college students, and of course, adults.
And it smells bad. Really, really bad. 'Is it that hard to just put a deodorant on and take a shower.' I thought inside my head, smelling the heavy smell coming from the youngsters in front of me.
Since my attention was already broken, I decided to close the app that I was reading novels and focused on the conversation before me.
"Finally managed to defeat that boss yesterday," one of the boys exclaimed, his face radiating a mix of relief and triumph. "Took me a whopping 24 tries to figure out the right strategy."
Curiosity piqued, I leaned in, getting closer.
"Which boss were you guys talking about?" As his friend asked the boy, he had a slight glint inside his eye.
"The Cursed Soulstealer," the other gamer replied, his voice tinged with a hint of exhaustion. "That boss fight was brutal. Two phases of relentless attacks and precision timing, man."
A smirk tugged at the corners of my lips, hidden beneath a veil of anonymity. Inside, I couldn't help but revel in their struggles. 'Git gud, bro,' I thought mischievously, knowing that overcoming the boss had required perseverance, skill, and an understanding of the game's mechanics. It wasn't just about sheer luck; it demanded strategic thinking and adaptability.
The game they were discussing was none other than a recently released RPG sensation that had taken the gaming community by storm.
Legacy of Shadows: The Hunter's Destiny.
It was a fire RPG game that had just come out to the market recently. However, from the moment the game was released, the whole community was talking about it.
Even though it was an RPG game, It boasted intricate boss fights that had become the talk of the town, especially for those brave enough to tackle the challenging difficulty level.
Ah, I misspoke earlier. There were no selectable difficulty settings in the game. If it was hard, then it simply was. That's what made the game so captivating. Players had to immerse themselves fully in the experience, adapt, and learn from each defeat.
Of course, not every fight was hard as it looked, but the important thing was to know the weaknesses of the bosses or the enemies.
And the game made its most captivating appearance right there.
The RPG elements and a huge, world-class building with a lot of details.
Legacy of Shadows excelled not only in its combat mechanics but also in its meticulous world-building. The attention to detail was unparalleled, creating a vast and immersive environment that captured the essence of an epic RPG adventure.
From sprawling landscapes to intricate dungeons, every aspect of the game had been meticulously crafted to transport players to a world of magic and mystery.
It contained everything inside, up to its little details, small evidence and tips to beat the bosses more easily, and more details….
And different from the new type of games, the game has a setting that was based on a new generic novel prompt that stemmed from South Korea.
The theme of Hunters.
The world suddenly changed as the mana appeared, blah, blah, blah…
The same setting but a different platform this time.
Since, different from a novel, it was now a game where you could interact with characters.
Adding the huge visuals and strong combat mechanics, it was a captivating experience.
And then there was me — someone that was very proficient in such games.
'You said you couldn't beat it with Cursed Soulcaster. It took me only one try to beat him, and he was fairly easy too….'
Since I was even known in the international community for my records.
'Even now, there are those waiting for my review of the game; I guess I should send it tonight.'
With that thought, I saw from the windows that I had reached the entrance of the college, bringing my thoughts to reality.
"Ugh," I groaned, stepping onto the familiar road leading to the college entrance. The day was off to a rough start, and my mood mirrored the gray skies overhead. Determined to push through, I muttered under my breath, "Here we go again..."
But before I could take more than a few steps, an unsettling sensation coursed through my body. A sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, causing my steps to falter. As my balance wavered, panic gripped me, and I struggled to regain control.
"Kurgh!" I choked out, my voice barely audible as I fought to stay upright. My vision blurred, and the world around me spun in a disorienting whirl. The once-familiar road transformed into a swirling vortex of colors, enveloping me in a bewildering display.
My gaze turned skyward, only to witness a sight that struck fear into my heart. The sun, once a radiant beacon of warmth, darkened before my eyes.
It was an eclipse—a celestial event that seemed incongruous with the time and place. Yet, there it was, casting an eerie shadow over everything it touched.
It was nothing normal. The eclipse? I was not even living in a country where eclipses could be observed.
Time seemed to stand still as I grappled with the inexplicable phenomenon unfolding around me. "What is this?" "What is happening." Questions raced through my mind, but answers never came to me.
No words poured from my mouth as I felt my body falling to the ground.
What did this sudden eclipse mean? And why was it happening now, in the midst of an otherwise ordinary day?
As the world blurred further, my consciousness began to fade, consumed by the enigmatic darkness that had befallen the sunlit morning.
Chapter 5: Eclipse of Destiny (2)
This world is harsh.
This world is cold.
I needed to realize this sooner than I thought.
This world….
It does never allow people to fit themselves… It never allows them to feel happy.
At first, everything was good.
Leaving with my parents, seeing their happy smiles as me and my sister were playing in our village.
Everybody inside the village always told us that we were the chosen ones.
We were the ones that would help them.
But, I never understood at that time.
Father and mother said, my sister awakened her magic, different from me.
At first, I was envious.
Because I saw how they viewed her, how they looked at her with a happy smile.
But those feelings disappeared as I saw my sister was treating me just the same as usual. Seeing the smile on her face, I thought it was my duty to help her, just like she always did to me.
And that made me truly happy.
Truly happy to try my best.
But, soon, father and mother left.
Because they were sick.
My sister cried…. Because I knew she loved our mother and father dearly.
I, too, loved them.
But I needed to be strong.
So, I hid my tears and supported her in coping with the pain.
I didn't want her to feel worse seeing me crying.
And, as we grew up, we relied on each other more.
My sister would talk about her magic in front of me, and I would listen.
We would read books father and mother would use to read to us.
However, she is no longer here.
No longer with me.
It was at that moment that everything in this world changed. At that vile moment, my world lost its meaning.
Those vile-black creatures….
They killed her….
I saw it….
With my own eyes…
That claw was piercing through her chest….
I am angry….
I am mad….
Why….
Just why all those things happened to us…
What did we do wrong? Why…. She was so innocent….
She had never done something bad in her life….
But, I know why….
Because of them….
Because of those vile black creatures….
'Azraelus.'
And one word keeps echoing inside my heart.
'Azraelus. Azraelus. Azraelus. Azraelus. Azraelus. Azraelus.
Azraelus. Azraelus. Azraelus.'
The one that killed my sister.
I heard his name.
The only clue I know…. The only clue I got….
The smile on his face when he was drinking the blood of my sister.
The smile on their faces when they slaughtered my fellow villagers.
They will pay.
I will make them pay.
Even if I need to purge every one of them on this world….
No one.
I will spare no one.
Because my sister died because of them.
No.
Who am I kidding?
Not because of them…. No…
It was because of me….
It was because I was weak….
Because I wasn't strong enough to protect my sister….
Because I was not there when she needed me…
I need to be strong….
Strong enough to purge the evil…
Strong enough to make them pay…
When I close my eyes, I see her face.
The way her eyes sparkled with mischief and her laughter filled the air.
Her bright white hair always brightened my day…
Her bright eyes never lost their sparkle…
She was my sister, my confidante, my best friend, my twin that always completed me…
She was the one that guided me….
But now she's gone.
Just like that, in an instant. I watched it happen right in front of me.
And I couldn't do anything to stop it.
The helplessness that washes over me every time I replay that moment is suffocating.
It engulfs me in a darkness I can't escape.
This world is evil….
I need to be strong, enough to avenge her….
Enough to make them pay.
'I need to be strong….'
******
Today I arrived at the orphanage where I would be staying. They said I needed to say my name to them, but I didn't want to talk.
No, I don't have the strength to talk. My body feels weak like it has lost its strength.
However, they hadn't taken no as the answer, so I gave them my name.
Astron Natasalune.
Some of the kids threw me bad looks, but I honestly didn't mind it. It doesn't matter how they look at me; I don't care.
I only have one goal now.
To get strong enough to avenge my sister.
So, I will put everything on the line to get stronger.
******
Today I finally learned about this 'Status window' thing.
They said those numbers represent your strength, but I had never seen this in my life before.
Neither mother and father nor the village shaman said anything to us.
But, if it is something that will help me get strong, then I will do what I can to make it help me.
******
Nowadays, the kids are looking at me with strange eyes.
I don't understand why they are looking at me like I have done something bad. I don't like talking to them.
Their laughter makes me remember her. Those happy times.
But I don't want to remember.
No, I shouldn't.
Because I wasn't there to protect her.
I don't deserve to be happy.
So, I always keep my distance from them. I don't want to feel these things.
I found a new gym, and a mister said he would help me register to work there. He said he would help me train.
******
That mister, Garrett, said I had a talent for fighting. However, he said my body was weak, so I shouldn't push myself.
I don't care.
I will just train and do whatever I can to get stronger. It doesn't matter if my body is weak.
Sometimes it hurts to hold the dagger Mister gave to me; sometimes, I can't raise my body to fight.
But whenever I close my eyes, I always see her face.
The blood was pouring from her mouth, dripping to the ground.
The hand that was piercing her body….
The smile on the demon's face…
Yes, I learned it was the job of demons…. Demons, demons, demons…
No, I don't deserve to rest.
Even if it is painful, I must not stop.
I must never stop.
*******
I had already reached the age of 15.
Mister Garrett said he was going to recommend me to the Arcadia Hunter Academy.
He said if I wanted to avenge my sister, I would need to do my best there.
However, he also said I needed to try more since that place was a special place filled with talented students.
He said the competition was fierce.
However, I need to enter there.
To complete my task.
To avenge my sister.
I feel the bottleneck…. I know I am reaching my limit already….
So, I need to enter there so that I can break my limits….
I have a long way ahead.
******
Today is the day when the results of the entrance exam will be announced.
For the first time in a while, I am feeling the anticipation.
'Astron Natasalune. You are accepted to the Arcadia Academy.' And, there, I could see the message.
The weight on my heart was lifted, making me feel relieved.
'Relieved?'
However, I don't deserve to feel it. I can't.
This is just the beginning.
******
Today is the first day of the Arcadia Hunter Academy.
The Entrance Examination was conducted yesterday, but I don't care about the speech they want to give to me.
I don't care what the principal will say.
I am here to learn, to get stronger.
That's it.
I can feel the students in the class.
Here, everyone is strong.
A lot stronger than the children from Orphanage.
This is good; I can improve more here….
I need to avenge my sister…..
I need to kill those demons….
*******
Today, too, I am sitting behind the classroom.
I am looking at the students.
I learned I was ranked last in the rankings, ranked too low.
In the front row, there is this guy named Ethan.
He is a guy that always talks too loud; I don't like him. He, too, ranks lower, just one above me.
He always has that bright smile on his face.
It makes me remember her.
I don't like him.
But that is fine.
At least, people are nice here.
Chapter 6: Eclipse of Destiny (3)
I was wrong.
People are not nice here. Here I am, surrounded by a sea of faces, but I might as well be invisible. The whispers follow me like a dark cloud, their venomous words poisoning my spirit.
I hear the laughter, the mocking, and it echoes in my mind, reminding me of my perceived weaknesses.
They are always saying 'awakened people' are strong. But, I am unable to get stronger anymore. I reached my limit. I know that I know that, but why I can't do anything?
Why can't I be like that Ethan guy? He is getting stronger and stronger; why can't I?
It's relentless, a daily torment that pierces through the fragile shell I try to maintain.
They are talking about how their stats are always raised, but I can't.
Sometimes I want to stop. Looking at the same screen over and over again….Those numbers are never changing…
But, I can't…
Whenever I stop, her face comes into my head…
I can't stop…
I mustn't…
*********
It has been a month already since the academy started….They are preying upon me; I can feel it…I walk these hallways, head down, trying to make myself smaller, invisible.
But they see me.
They see the vulnerability etched on my face, the scars of loss that refuse to fade.
I become their target, the embodiment of their amusement.
They taunt me, jeering at my pain, as if my grief is something to be ridiculed.
"Hey, trash…"
I hear the same voice that has been causing me distress.
'No, not now….'
Turning my gaze, I see a body filled with bulkiness. I try to run away, try to increase the distance.
"Where do you think you are going?"
However, a hand blocks my path. Now in front of me, another person stands there.
It is a girl, a girl a lot different than her.
I try to get past her, but not to avail because my hands are tied with some weird magic.
Seeing I can't go further, I turn my head backward.
/SWOOSH/
There, I can see a fist coming to my face….
My body reacts on its own…. I try to raise my arms reflexively….
/THUD/
But, it is not enough.
It never is.
Immediately, the punch connects with my face. And soon, a familiar pain assaults me. A familiar pain I had been feeling for a while.
"Kuugh-"
Blood spills from my mouth, but I refuse to bow down hear.
I struggle to get the hand that is holding me… But he is strong…. A lot stronger than me….
"Why don't you just cry some more, crybaby?" they sneer. They push me, shove me sideways, watching me crumble under the weight of their cruelty.
I'm trapped in this cycle of torment, always waiting for the next blow, the next laugh at my expense.
"HAHAHAH!" "Trash will always be trash, no matter what."
Their laughter echoes inside my head. The tingle never goes away. I know; my sanity slips away slowly…
I question myself constantly. What did I do to deserve this? Why am I so weak, so easy to prey upon? Why am I not like my sister?
She was so bright defending our village… Why can't I be like her? I can't hide. I'm left feeling like a failure, a punching bag for their amusement. I know I failed my sister, but I can't do anything.
'Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why?'
Just why…. Why can't I get stronger? Darkness slips in, and my eyes slowly lose their sight.
My body feels aching all around, but I don't budge. It doesn't matter anymore. I can feel they are hitting me; they are spitting on me. But none of those matter no longer.
"Trash." "Bastard." "Even your mother left you." I hear their voices getting weaker and weaker.
I realize they are leaving me once again.
In my darkest moments, I wonder, what if I never existed? What if I was not there? Then, would it be okay? Feel like an outsider, an outcast who doesn't belong in this world.
But whenever I think about those things, my sister's face comes to my mind.
I feel disgusted at my pathetic self. I know it is my own fault, it is my own weakness that I can't stand up right here. It is because I am weak.
At that moment, I hear a tiny whispering voice inside me.
"Aren't you tired?" A simple voice that echoes deep into my soul.
"Tired of being weak? Tired of not being able to do anything?" The voice echoes deep inside my heart, a voice that is cold.
A voice that reminds me of mine.
I feel a shiver run down my spine as the voice resonates deep within my soul.
For a moment, the temptation to listen grows stronger.
"Yes," I admit, my voice trembling. "I am tired. Tired of feeling helpless, tired of being a target for this cruelty."
I want to cry, I want to pour down my emotions. But I know I can't.
The voice, cold and calculating, continues its manipulation. "What if I could offer you a way out? A chance to shed your weakness and become something more. Something stronger."
I hear the voice, and that coldness inside sends me shivers.
I never knew someone like this existed inside me. I feel fear.
"Who are you?" I ask, not being able to contain myself.
"AHAHAHAHHAAH!" At that moment, a burst of chilly laughter erupts. It sends shivers down my spine.
I want to ask, what is funny? But I can't.
"Does it matter? I am you…. The one that you had been suppressing…."
His words echo inside my head…. I can't understand anything…. He is me? What does he mean?
'No. This is not true.' I think not being able to contain the fear.
"Did you forget why you are here?" However, at that moment, his voice enters my ears. "Do you want to fail her? Do you want her blood to stay on the ground?"
Those words pierce through my heart, bringing memories I don't want to see right now.
Her smile shifts with the claw piercing through her chest….
"Accept me… For her…. If she was in front of you, could you save her with your puny strength?"
His words pierce deep inside my heart once again, revealing scars hard to heal.
The moment those words come out, a shiny light appears in front of me.
I could see a necklace there. It is shining with back color with a crescent moon carved.
It reminds me of my sister again.
At that moment, the feeling of despair fills my heart.
'I need to do something, I need to be better.'
'I can't always stay the way I am.'
'I am weak, I am not strong.'
My hands shake... My vision blurs...
The pain that I was ignoring assaults me again, and my body aches all around...
The places they hit were making me feel despair...
'I can't protect her... Let alone avenging... I am worthless....'
In my desperation, I reach out and grasp the darkness, accepting the deal that will forever alter the course of my life.
Chapter 7: Eclipse of Destiny (4)
As the world blurred further, my consciousness began to fade, consumed by the enigmatic darkness that had befallen the sunlit morning.
And then, I awoke.
I found myself in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by impenetrable darkness. No light, no sound. It was as if I had been cast adrift in a void of nothingness. Confusion and fear gripped my heart as I struggled to comprehend my circumstances.
"What is happening?" I whispered into the abyss, my voice swallowed by the void. The silence was deafening, amplifying my disorientation.
Questions raced through my mind, each one a desperate plea for answers. Was I dead? Was this some kind of twisted afterlife? The absence of any tangible sensations left me feeling disconnected from my own existence. What was this world?
Even calling it a world was maybe wrong.
I attempted to move, to break free from the oppressive emptiness, but my efforts were futile. I realized with a jolt that I no longer had a physical form. I was a mere consciousness, untethered from the vessel I once inhabited.
'Why is this happening?' As I was lost in thought, my attention was abruptly drawn to something entering my field of view, accompanied by a chorus of voices.
Yes, it was a sound….
While I examined my new existence, I discovered that despite my physical limitations, I still possessed my senses. I could see and hear the world outside, although I was unable to interact with it. It was a peculiar sensation, observing the world without the ability to influence or participate in it.
Lost in thought, I yearned for answers, for a glimpse of understanding in this bewildering existence. Time passed, and yet, I remained trapped in my ethereal prison, a mere observer of a world in which I could no longer participate.
Even though I didn't know what this world was, I just stood there and watched until I got a clue. In the end, there was nothing I could do after all.
*******
Days passed….
That peculiar sensation of not being able to intervene with the outside world was eating me alive.
Imagine you are a baby, just a newborn. But you have your consciousness intact. You are able to feel everything, see everything, hear everything, but you can't move your body at all.
You can't do anything since your motor reflexes have yet to develop. It was such a feeling.
And that feeling was eating me alive.
The solace, the nothingness….
But, of course, I was not just staying idle and waiting. Even though I was not able to move my body, I was able to see and feel the world around me.
There was only one action that I could take in this place. Thinking and observing.
Something I always liked to do.
Be it in high school, be it in college, be it while playing the games.
The thing that I always have done.
Watching and observing. Looking for those little details.
And strangely, it made this place bearable enough. Even though I wanted to feel the world again or wanted to see the world, I still managed to keep my sanity.
However, watching and observing do have one simple result or output, others may say.
It is the information. The information that would come whenever you choose to observe.
And that information was entering my consciousness.
At first, the only thing I saw was a ceiling. But soon, that started changing as the scene started moving in front of me.
It was like I was looking at the world from the eyes of someone.
And then, I started the voice of the body. It was a voice that was familiar, but I couldn't put up where I had seen it.
Even though I had almost a photographic memory, my memory of earing was falling behind a little.
In any case, the voice I had been hearing was the voice of a young boy.
But something was amiss. As a person that played quite a lot of VR games, or FPS games, I noticed one little thing.
The person's arm alignment was weird. Yes, it was weird, like the arms were a lot higher than where they were supposed to be.
And at that moment, I noticed. I was not looking at the world from the eyes of someone other.
It was aligned with the young man's neck.
'I am inside a necklace.' I thought, solving the puzzle. Because, sometimes, my vision would shake weirdly, different from my head.
All those things fit each other.
And soon, I was able to learn the identity of the young man that held my necklace.
'Astron Natusalune.'
It was at that moment that I realized where I was, where this world was.
I was inside the game. The game I had played quite a lot of times. The game I was pretty good at.
Legacy of Shadows: The Hunter's Destiny.
I was inside this game.
And the boy that was holding the necklace was a small villain.
A third-rate villain that was just there to show off the protagonist's difference from normal guys.
He was a simple extra that would die at the start of the storyline because he was jealous of the protagonist's achievements.
To explain why that was the case, Legacy of Shadows: The Hunter's Destiny was a hunter-themed game where you can develop your main character from zero. And the game starts with the academy.
Therefore, at the start, the main character has a low standing with weak strength, so he would start as a bottom-ranking student, but according to the player's choices, the main character would go with a second awakening and start getting stronger at a fast rate.
Then you might ask, what is the awakening?
Awakening is a term that is used for those who have access to the status window. It is the number one requirement to become a Hunter or join the Arcadia Hunter Academy.
However, different from normal people, Ethan, the main character, can awaken two times, thus resulting in his high speed of increase in his strength.
Then, why was this gut a villain? It was pretty simple. Because Astron was someone that was also at the bottom of the academy and stayed as weak as he was, he was envious of the main character's achievements and would later sell his soul to demons and would become a Djinn.
'But, this is not what I was expecting.'
With each passing day, I delved deeper into the art of observation. I became attuned to the subtle nuances of human behavior, the interplay of emotions, and the underlying motivations that guided actions.
Therefore, I was also able to see the subtle emotions the boy was showing to the world.
'What is this sister thing about?' I thought at first since the game never revealed anything about Astron at all.
He was always looking at a picture before he fell asleep, saying he was his sister.
But, as a short time passed, the pieces fell together.
His sister was killed by demons.' I reached this conclusion after witnessing Astron's immense hatred towards the demonic forces that plagued his world.
It became my routine to observe his daily life, watching as he trained and gave his utmost effort in everything he did. But over time, the monotony of my existence grew suffocating, threatening to erode my sanity.
As Astron entered the academy, a place where strength was revered, and weakness was scorned, his struggles intensified.
He faced relentless bullying and ridicule from his fellow students, yet his burning desire for vengeance fueled his determination to press on. His sister's bloodshed would not be in vain.
Thus he was trapped between two sides. One side was pressing him to end this pitifulness while the other side of self-hatred was pushing him forward. Inside, he was eating himself alive.
It was during this tumultuous period that I sensed a change. A weakening barrier that contained me as Astron's mental state deteriorated and growing desperation took hold. At that moment, I realized the key to my own freedom.
I waited for the opportune moment, the point at which Astron's spirit would be at its lowest, his need for strength and power at its peak. And when I saw him being beaten down, his resilience tested to its limits, I could no longer contain myself. I whispered into his ear, my words striking a chord deep within his soul.
"Aren't you tired?" I asked him. "Tired of being weak? Tired of feeling helpless?" I knew he carried the weight of his vulnerability, his yearning for change. I wanted to stoke his anger, his desperation, to make him yearn for strength like never before.
And it worked.
With each word, his resolve wavered, and the connection between us grew stronger. He questioned my identity, but I reveled in his fear, his uncertainty. Yet, Astron remained resilient, resisting the acceptance of my presence.
There was one final barrier that stood in my way, one final obstacle to overcome. And I knew what it was… His inner demons….
"Accept me... for her," I whispered, invoking his sister's memory. At that moment, I felt his soul shatter; his resolve was destroyed.
It was at that moment he accepted me.
The barrier crumbled, and I felt my consciousness slipping away, freed from the confines of the necklace.
As my existence merged with Astron's, I became an embodiment of his desire for power, his unwavering determination to avenge his sister's death. Bound by our shared purpose, our fates intertwined, we embarked on a path that would forever change the course of our intertwined destinies….