(Flashback) I woke up yawning, then hopped down the stairs, to where my mom and dad were. "Mom! Dad! Today is my birthday, right?" "Kyle! Why are you up so early?" She said this in a scolding tone, and I cowered. "I'm just so excited!" My dad chastised my mom. "Now, now, don't tease the boy. Here's your birthday present! Congratulations on turning four!" He handed me a ring, and I put it on. "Huh? What's it supposed to do? Whatever!" I started jumping and shouting "Yay!" My father chuckled, and said "It's a relic meant to boost your mana by 2 times!" "Wow!" "But remember, don't tell anyone, okay? This relic was handed down from generation to generation, and it's extremely precious!" My mother warned me, but I was too busy examining it to listen, so I just nodded along. "Alright, you can go now." I ran outside to find Ash'ktor and Risha waiting for me. "Hey Kyle! I found something really cool! Come on, let's go!" I chased after Ash'ktor, while Risha was lagging behind, shaking her head at our behavior. "Calm down guys! H-hey! Kyle!" I grabbed her hand and kept running after Ash'ktor.
Risha's POV
I blushed as Kyle led me by the hand, and ran through the woods. He never noticed my feelings for him, but I knew that I liked him since he joined our school. His parents were the leaders of a small village in the territory of the black blood clan. He was exempt from school because he could have had his parents teach him, but he wanted to go to school anyway, to learn I admired his drive, but his status and the "lowly school" he went to caused rumors to sprout within the nobles and commoners. We eventually arrived at a large crater, spanning the width of one of our large fields. Ash'ktor was standing at the edge of the crater, and he waved his hand when he saw us, when he saw me holding hands with Kyle. It looked like his face darkened for a moment, but I didn't believe it. "My eyes must be playing tricks on me." I whispered, and rubbed my eyes. "Hey! What's that?" "I told you I found something really cool…" Kyle was pointing his finger at a black gem in the middle of the crater. It emanated an aura of fear and darkness, and I took a step back. "Ugh." I collapsed to the ground, the last thing I saw was Kyle running towards me.
Ash'ktor POV
"Come on, little child. Let me take over your body. Hehehehe! Then, I will be able to revive my clan, and start a thousand years of blood to pay tribute to my older brother!" The sinister creature sent several shadow spikes at me, and I screamed in agony. Then, an image hit me. A picture of Kyle holding hands with Risha. "You like the girl, don't you?" I stared lifelessly at the image as my mind became clouded with rage. "Promise me. Promise me that if you take over my body, you'll leave my consciousness alive, so that I can watch you torture Kyle and make Risha mine!" The creature laughed, then accepted the deal. "It will be painful. Ready yourself." I screamed as the spikes impaled me, and drew out my soul. After the process, I lay choking and wheezing on the floor, in a corporeal body. A purple orb was absorbed into my real body, and half of my arm grew spikes, as well as purple veins. "Y-you're part of the corruption!" "Indeed. Now watch!"
Kyle POV
Risha had just collapsed, when I heard a boom behind me, and I was sent flying into a tree. "Ugh!" I coughed out blood, then looked up to see Ash'ktor floating in the air. His left arm had spikes and purple veins, and I gasped. "Y-you're the corruption general, Kaminao!" He laughed. "You're well informed, youngster! Sadly, you're about to die!" He flew straight at me, but I slammed a hellfire ball into his face. "That's not gonna work on me!" He snapped my arm, but I swung my other arm around, slamming a light sword into his face. Hissing sounds resounded through the air, and he stumbled backwards, clutching his head. "Shit! I haven't fully regained my power, or you would be paste by now!" I summoned several light swords, and charged at him, but was held back. I looked down to see void chains binding me, and the general laughed. Several void spikes impaled me, and started draining my blood. I screamed in pain as the general laughed. "M-my grandpa will kill you!" He snickered, and increased the rate of drainage, until I went limp. Suddenly, my leg whipped out with white light covering it as the chains went back into the portal, slamming into his head. He growled, and twisted my leg. I sent mana through my leg, and several light spikes hit his shoulder and arm. It dangled limply from his side, but he grabbed my neck, and lifted me up. "You're dead!" he snarled, until several holy spears impaled him. "G-grandpa!" An elderly man floated down, and held me. I felt my body returning to its original state, as the demon lay shrieking on the ground. "Y-y-you'll pay for this! My older brother has already infiltrated your village!" I stood up carrying Risha, and walked with my grandpa back to the village. He waved his hand, and one of the villagers was cut apart by holy swords. "They're back. He muttered to himself. "I've got to go. See you, Kyle!" He left, and I walked back to my house. My parents made a fuss, but when I explained to them what had
Happened, they let me go to my room. I set down Risha in bed, and sat on a chair reading. "K-Kyle? What happened? Where am I?" "You collapsed when we got to the crater." "Where's A-" Ash'ktor was taken over by the corruption general Kaminao. His soul was hidden in the gem. My grandpa showed up and killed him before he got too powerful." Risha started crying, and I comforted her. "H-he was our best friend…" "Yeah… I bet he put up a good fight against that demon." "y-yeah…" She sniffled a bit, and I patted her head. "But why was I the only one to collapse?" "You were most likely corrupted by the gem's aura." "o-oh… okay! Let's go!" I walked out with her, but then she suddenly ran away. "H-hey! Where are you going?" "I-I have something to do!" "...ok…"
Risha POV
"Dammit!" I punched a tree, venting my anger. "At this point, I'll just be a burden to Kyle!" I sent a barrage of blows at the tree, eventually toppling it. I kicked it, and sent it flying. "That stupid idiot! He still doesn't get it!" I started walking back to the city, thinking about a good training regime for myself. "I want to be stronger, so that I can help Kyle!" Suddenly, a man with a mask appeared in front of me, and slammed his hand in a sideways chop into my neck, knocking me out.
Kyle POV
Risha hadn't come back, and my parents weren't at the town square. I walked to my village, to see it burn, and my father with purple veins in his arms. My mother was at his side, and a liquid flowed out. It was a clear, purple one, and I stared in horror. My father got up and thanked my mom. After that, my father forced me to train, as he cared about me, and didn't want me to be in danger. But then, he had another child with one of his harem members. His name was Kizue. Suddenly, I was of no use to my father because he had a son who had stronger mana and potential than me. His attitude towards me changed, becoming colder and colder, harsher and harsher, forcing me to train. The constant training, without food or water, constantly forcing myself to be in mortal danger just to get an ounce of strength became unbearable. It got worse and worse, and eventually, my mom went missing on a mission. When I couldn't take it anymore, I ran away, into the forest, and found a city nearby. The only item I had was a gift from my grandpa, a tattered old book, that could boost my power and form a dark aura around me. I walked down the alleyway, to where my makeshift tent was. As I entered, a boy my age was sitting there. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" "Looking for food." "Well, go somewhere else. This is my tent." The next day however, the same boy showed up. "What do you want now?" "To be friends…" I stared at him unbelievingly, until I realized he wasn't joking. "Fine. Don't bother me, and we'll work together." "Ok!" That was how our partnership started. The week went by quickly, and I eventually had enough to buy myself a shack. I had also started an organization of abandoned kids and orphans, who had joined us to survive. "Hey Neroki!" I waved a pouch of coins excitedly. "We have enough to finally buy a real house!" He turned towards me, with tears in his eyes. "My father is forcing me to leave… I'm sorry…" he walked away, and his back cut a sorry figure, as he trudged through the snow. Later that night, we held a mourning for our friend. A girl in the back sighed. "What's wrong, Niraka?" She sighed again, then blushed. "I-I-" "You had a crush on him." She sighed and said "Yeah…" "then chase after him!" "O-okay!" She ran after Neroki, and I watched them exchange words. She came back, and said "I'm going with him." That was the last I saw of them. The years went by quickly, and before I knew it, I was 21. My organization grew, and I was contacted by my father. He no longer hated me, so I came back for a visit. "What is it, father?" My tone was laced with coldness, because of how he treated me. "Your mother wants to see you. Leave. And do not take that tone with me." "Very well." I left, and went to my mother's house. I knocked on the door, and a melodic voice answered, "Come in." I opened the door to find a young woman with blond hair and piercing blue eyes standing at the entrance. "Uhhhh… who are you?" "I should be asking that question." "I'm the son of the person who lives here." Her eyes widened, and she called "Hey! You have a visitor." One of my father's harem members walked down the stairs, and came up to me . "K-Kyle?" "Yeah." "O-oh…" "I'm leaving. I have a real family waiting for me." I turned away, when the blonde woman grabbed my arm. "What do you want now?" My tone was ice cold, as my mothers had abandoned me for their other children. "I'm your fiancée." My eyes widened for a moment, but then I shook her hand off and started walking. "I'm no longer part of the family." My brief visit saddened me, but I left, to go back to my real family, the organization I had created. The power I had gained from intense training, and the abuse of my father when I returned gave me a newfound strength. (Flashback end)