On the training ground of the Camael family estate, the rhythmic clash of wooden swords echoed through the air.
Two figures were engaged in a fierce duel, their movements a testament to their daily practice. The Camael family was renowned for their unique sword art, which had brought them fame and glory across the land. However, this same art had also brought a curse upon them, casting a shadow over their illustrious legacy.
"Come on sister. Bring it on."
Young Noah was huffing and puffing, his shirt drenched in sweat. He tightened his grip on his wooden sword, determination evident in his expression.
"You sure Noah. You can handle my sword strike. Why don't you attack first." The young lady hesitated. Warry that she might harm her little brother.
"Come on, sis. I am the great warrior Rasura. Their is no swordsman that can bested this sword of mine." He laughed dramatically.
"That's why I am telling you to stop reading that story book of your." She sighed.
"Hahaha... Now prepare for my sword."
Noah charged forward, striking with his wooden sword. The young lady braced herself, meeting his attack head-on with a precise parry.
Noah maintained his aggressive stance, continuing to press the assault with relentless strikes. However, the young lady expertly parried and dodged each blow, waiting for the perfect moment. As Noah leaped to deliver another attack, she seized the opportunity, ready to exploit the opening in his defense.
"Now!!!"
She slashed with her wodden sword. 'Got you!!!'
The sword came perilously close to him, but just before it could strike, he executed a backflip in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the blow.
"What? Uhh.. almost!!" She was frustrated.
"Did you see that sis..."
Noah landed with a dramatic pose, poised to turn toward her. However, before he could fully face her, he heard the sharp sound of a sword striking above his head, followed by a sudden surge of pain.
"Ouch!!! I can't believe you hit me when I was not even ready!!"
He completed. A red bump in his forehead.
"You are the one who always says, a warrior is always ready for bettle. Never letting their guard down. And now that warrior is crying."
"Ahem..I was not crying. I was hmm...I was.." he tried to change the subject but failed.
"Ya,ya. Stop playing with sword all day."
"What? But I want to be like Rasura."
"Ya, enough. It's already dark now, shouldn't we be going now? You remember what tomorrow is right."
"The execution ceremony." His eyes narrowed.
The only way for a human to become Awakened was through death. This harsh reality was why noble families held an annual ritual—The Ritual of Awakening.
In this brutal ceremony, they sacrificed their own children, hoping to awaken the survivors. Only those who endured the ordeal and survived would gain the coveted power of an Awakened.
Each year, thousands of children were killed in these rituals, all for the chance of unlocking that power. For a noble family, there was no greater disgrace than remaining non-Awakened; it was an insult to their lineage and status.
"Their is a good chance, one of as will die tomorrow." She grinned her teeth.
"Ya...we might. This may be the last time we spoke with each other."
He sat on the nearby bench. The young lady also sat beside him.
They talked about their childhood, they spend together.
"Hay, Noah. I want a you to give me a promise." She held Noah hands.
"What is it, sister?"
"Noah... promise me that you will never forget to laugh."
*******************
The next morning arrived. I woke up from my bed, walked to the window, and opened it. The crisp, cool air touched my skin gently. I took a deep breath, savoring the freshness. I would have liked to enjoy the moment, but then I remembered what day it was. How could I have forgotten?
A maid knocked on my door. Although I never locked it-perhaps out of fear, though I often tried to appear brave-l was actually terrified of the dark. Each night, sister would come to my room and sit beside me until I fell asleep. But she hadn't come last night. I couldn't bear the thought of losing my sister; I wished it were possible for me to take her place.
Lost in my thoughts, I heard the maid knock on the door once more.
"It's open. Come in." I said.
She politely opened the door, making sure the unpleasant creaking sound didn't disturb me.
To be honest, I rarely paid attention to such trivial details.
She approached me, holding a white cloth in her hands, and began preparing me for the ceremony. As I glanced at the mirror, I couldn't help but feel like a sacrificial goat. The thought alone made my stomach churn with anxiety.
And with that, It was time, for the slaughter. I meant the ceremony.
The maid politely lead the way. I looked at her eyes. I was empty like a void. Their was no emotion.
No one in his family had any. They were all monsters. They should all just died....
I tried to calmed down. Now that I think about it, it might not be their fault. It was the Art that we practiced. Ours inherited Art, The empty blade.
It was a sword technique that had been passed down in my family from generation. Inorder to master the art, one most empty their souls they said.
But I didn't care about such things. My believes were different from that. I always believed that a warrior was not a warrior without emotions. They support to be filled with it. Emotions suppose to be a warrior's true power. Just like Rasura.
I don't remember when it was. But I want to be like Rasura. A swordsman wondering the world, defeating every swordsman he came across. A dream to be the strongest swordsman with a big smile on his face. That's what I dream to be. Just like him. A warrior filled with emotions.
I still remember the works he said, In his final battle with his rival. I just can't forget the word he said.
"When you face someone you truly consider your equal, words become unnecessary. Each time your swords clash, you'll hear their heartbeat in the echoes of the steel. Through the sound of combat, you can sense their emotions and feelings. When you look into their eyes, you'll see a reflection of yourself, even amidst the chaos of battle—surrounded by blood, screams, and clashing swords. In that moment, it's as if you both hear only each other. If you can feel your souls connect with each clash of blades, then you have found yourself a true rival."
A warrior should always fight with compassion. But those bastard said a warrior's soul need to be empty.
We soon reached the ceremony site. All the family members were gathered their, wearing white robes. Among the crowd I could saw fathe....I mean the patriarch.
That bastard....I mean his highness looked at me, with his piercing eyes. As always empty and cold. Every time I sees his eyes my blood boiled.
Those were the same eyes he gave me, when he killed my mother infront of me. And that bastard had the audacity to said it was for my benefit.
I took several deep breaths, trying to calmed down. I had no choice. I politely bowed slightly to the bastard. Then looked away. I avoid contact with anyone, although no one in this freaky family talked always.
They led me to the altar at the center. It was crafted from an unfamiliar metal that I didn't recognize, but it was undeniably breathtaking, almost as if it were alive. I stood before it, awestruck by its presence.
After a while all the other seven candidates were escorted there. Among them was my sister. I was in the last position, but my sister was in the second position.
Before the ceremony begins, an obese old man, who looked like a bishop of the seven Gods church, came forward.
"I am the archbishop in service to the seven Gods. My name is James Riruda. And I will be responsible for today's ceremony."
Riruda was the name given to all who served the seven. I read once that it was the name of their first Apostle. And now they all shared the same name.
Several maids brought eight of us to the altar. Attached to a single thick chain were eight handcuffs. They made us kneel before the altar and fastened the handcuffs onto our wrists. Afterward, they placed blindfolds over our eyes.
I couldn't see anything; all I could hear were the eerie magic chants spoken by the archbishop. The chants, recited in an unfamiliar, mystical language, sent a chill down my spine. I had never heard that language before.
When the chanting ceased, I heard footsteps approaching us, accompanied by the ringing of a steel blade.
There was a moment of silence, followed by a chilling scream that echoed through the walls. It was quickly followed by the unmistakable sound of flesh being pierced-a sound I knew all too well from hunting, the same noise I heard when my sword struck a rabbit. This time, the sound came from my left.
The scream was filled with such intense agony that it was almost unbearable. It eventually ceased, replaced by the brutal sound of an axe severing a head. The final sound that reached my ears was the sickening drip of blood hitting the ground.
'Damn it, the next one is.....'
The child beside me began to cry, pleading for mercy. It was a futile gesture; accepting one's fate was the only option when born into this cursed family.
The next sound of a sword piercing flesh came from my left-it was the crying child. Hot blood splattered onto my face, its metallic scent filling my nostrils.
Despite the horror, I felt a surge of relief. It wasn't my sister. The thought that she was still alive brought me a strange sense of happiness amidst the fear.
"Noah don't forget the promi....."
I heard my sister's voice just before the sound of a sword piercing flesh. With that, her voice was silenced forever.
I didn't cry. I remained silent, my breath slow and my mind blank. I couldn't recall what happened next.
I only have a vague memory of being transported to an unknown place where I could see my own soul. And just like that, I found myself with a soul.
****************
In the torture chamber of the Camael family estate, I was bound with chains. Blood dripped from numerous whip marks covering my body. The pain was intense, but it paled in comparison to the agony of losing my sister.
"I will ask you again, what did you said?" The patriarch of the family asked me, holding my chin up.
"That you bastards are all murderers. You all piece of shit killed my sister." I screamed with all my strength.
I was no longer afraid of them. After living in fear for my hole life I was not afraid anymore.
He grabbed my hair, stared at my face, then left the room.
"Keep going." He order the guards before leaving.
The beatings continued for several days, and I was astonished that I was still alive. Then I realized that I had become Awakened. I could sense a mysterious energy coursing through my body, and my strength had grown beyond human limits. However, I couldn't break the chains—perhaps they were made from some enchanted metal.
They relentlessly tortured me day and night, except for their lunch breaks. I hadn't eaten or drunk anything for days, but I remained alive. I knew I could endure this for even longer.
As the beatings continued, my body began to collapse. But just before I was on the brink of death, they used their Art to heal me. Not even a trace of the previous wounds remained.
Two more days passed, and by then, I had become indifferent to the pain. I began channeling the mysterious energy within my body.
By the fourth day, they healed me once more. This time, however, I resisted the healing with my own mysterious energy. I allowed the injuries to heal but prevented the scars from vanishing.
I wanted the scars to remain as a constant reminder of my vengeance. I promised you, sister, that I would make them all pay, driven by the emotions in my soul. I promise you, sister, I will see this through.
*******************
Twenty years had passed since you death. My scars are healed. In my persuade to not be like them. I just came like them. Not I became even worse then them.
I killed so many. Now they called me The slayer in the moonless night.
Now their no emotion left in me. My soul had become as empty as void. Hollowed and emotionless.
I mastered the empty blade.
*************************
[Mathematician: numerical manipulation, perfect harmony]
A godlike aura of a Sovereign, eliminated from Jin. Completely suppressing those inside the barrier.
'I-I can't move!!! His aura is too powerful!!' Maya want to healed Roma, who was in a near death state. But couldn't even moved under Jin's intense spiritual pressure.
"Ugh.....Wha-t is this....?!!' Luke's mind goes blank from the pressure, lossing consciousness.
[Battle Art: Empty blade]
A blade approached Jin with high speed. Slashing his chest. .
"You are able to injure me!!" Jin was surprised. He never thought that someone with 68% harmony completion could harmed him.
[Mathematician: Information calculation]
'So it's that Art of your.'
The blade was not able to slashed deeply into the muscles, but still damaging him in his 'perfect harmony' state was supposed to be impossible.