The air was cold, biting at Xyenn's exposed skin like a thousand frozen needles. The vastness of the Jörngardr Mountains stretched out behind him, their jagged, snow-capped peaks cutting through the pale blue sky, a sight both majestic and foreboding. But here, at the Temple of the First Flame, the sky seemed darker, as if the draconic gods themselves cast a shadow over this forsaken place.
The ritual site was a place of ancient power, its very stones humming with the echoes of forgotten rites. The pit in which Xyenn stood was wide, a gaping wound in the earth, its rocky walls descending into darkness. At the bottom of the pit, scattered like the remnants of an ancient battle, lay bones—massive, twisted things, their shapes hinting at creatures long dead, creatures of immense size and power. Some said these were the remains of dragons who had defied the gods. Others believed they were the bones of lesser deities, broken and discarded by the Cycle of Rebirth.
Around the edge of the pit stood statues, larger than life, towering over the ritual site. Each statue depicted a draconic deity, their forms both human and beast, with scales of stone and eyes of molten gold. They were frozen in eternal judgment, their faces snarling in anger or twisted in agony, their claws reaching toward the heavens—or perhaps toward something long lost. Each one was a monument to gods who demanded worship, reverence, and fear.
But Xyenn felt nothing but contempt.
His breath was ragged, the cold air burning his throat, but the fire of his anger—his hatred—kept him warm. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles whitened, the tendons in his forearms standing out like cords of steel. His dark red eyes burned like embers beneath his furrowed brow, and his scars**, crisscrossing his face, seemed to pulse with every heartbeat. His short but smooth black and gray hair flung in the breeze of the wind.
He stood there, shirtless, the muscles of his torso rippling beneath the pale light, his fur-lined pants doing little to shield him from the elements. But the cold was nothing compared to the fury that boiled inside him.
He had come here, to this sacred place, seeking power. Power that the gods had refused to give him. Power that he deserved.
And yet, nothing.
No divine favor. No surge of strength. No visions. Just silence.
'Bullshit.'
Xyenn gritted his teeth, his jaw aching with the strain, and glared up at the towering statues. The draconic deities loomed above him, their stone eyes staring down with their eternal expressions of indifference, their mouths twisted in sneers or frowns of disapproval.
He had always hated them.
"Kyrrin," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and rough, "a world born from the breath of ancient draconic deities, colossal cosmic beings whose very essence shaped the skies, seas, and mountains... and for what? So they can sit up there in their celestial thrones, while we down here—" He spat the words, his voice rising. "We're left to fend for ourselves in this frozen hellhole, scraping by, begging for scraps of their power."
His voice echoed off the stone walls, carried by the icy wind that whipped through the pit.
He took a step forward, looking down at the bones at the bottom of the pit, his lips curling into a sneer. "This Cycle of Rebirth—this curse they're bound to—life, death, and rebirth, over and over, and they still expect us to grovel at their feet. To give them our worship, our souls, just so they don't fade away into nothingness like the pathetic creatures they are."
His chest rose and fell with each heavy breath, his body trembling with barely contained rage. "Every kingdom, every race... they all worship you, don't they? They kneel at your statues, they offer you their prayers and their sacrifices, because without it, you die."
Xyenn's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "And you call yourselves gods."
He took another step toward the edge of the pit, his fists shaking. "I've always hated you deity bastards," he growled, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the nearest statue, a hulking draconic figure with wings spread wide, its stone fangs bared in a snarl.
Without hesitation, Xyenn raised his middle finger toward the statue, his lips pulling back into a vicious grin. "Fuck you," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You want my worship? Here it is."
He was done. Done with the silence. Done with the endless struggle, the constant failure, the gods' indifference. He had tried. He had begged. He had fought. And for what? To be ignored, while the world around him grew stronger, more dangerous, more cruel.
The animals... even the animals out there were stronger than him. Every hunt had turned into a battle for survival, every encounter a reminder of his weakness. He couldn't even hunt properly, couldn't carve out a place for himself in this brutal, unforgiving land.
The draconic gods had abandoned him. Never even thought about him, honestly.
'Why do I have to try so hard to fit into a world that doesn't want me? Everyone's walking around with these cool magic tricks and here I am with nothing. Out of all people, it had to happen to me.'
With a deep, shuddering breath, Xyenn stepped to the edge of the pit. He looked down into the darkness, at the bones far below, his heart pounding in his chest.
He was ready. Ready to end it. Ready to throw himself into the pit and let the gods deal with the aftermath.
He bent his knees, preparing to jump, when—
A rumble.
It was faint at first, like the distant growl of thunder, but it grew louder, deeper, until the very ground beneath his feet began to tremble. The statues around the pit seemed to shift, their stone forms creaking, groaning, as if something ancient and terrible was stirring beneath the earth.
Xyenn froze, his eyes wide, his breath catching in his throat. The air around him grew thick with power, a crackling, electric energy that made his skin prickle.
'What is that?! Did they hear me?! Are they gonna finally give me power?! Was this all it took for them to actually care? Was it some test?!'
Xyenn's heart pounded in his chest as the deep, ancient voice rumbled from the pit below. His body tensed. But then, a sudden presence appeared beside him, like a shadow that materialized from the cold mountain air.
He spun his head, only to find a girl standing there, a wide grin plastered across her bloodstained face. Her appearance was striking—long black hair, cascading down her back in waves, with two loosely braided strands framing her face. Her skin was pale, almost ghostly in the dim light of the ritual site, and her eyes—those eyes—glowed a piercing crimson. What made Xyenn's blood run cold, however, were her pupils, thin and slitted like a dragon's, their sharpness cutting through the air like blades. A faint, crackling red aura shimmered around her, flickering with the same chaotic energy that buzzed through the pit below. Above her head floated a halo—a jagged, dark pink symbol that pulsed with the same eerie energy, casting an ominous glow over her.
Her expression was wild, full of chaotic glee, like she was about to burst into laughter at any moment. Her mouth twisted into a smirk, revealing sharp, almost predatory teeth that gleamed in the low light. She wore a simple white dress, stained with blood, as though she'd just walked out of a battlefield. The contrast only made her more unnerving.
Xyenn's eyes widened, and he staggered back, his heart jumping to his throat. His mind scrambled to process what he was seeing. This girl—no, she wasn't just a girl. She was something far more dangerous.
But she was way too beautiful, too beautiful in fact that made Xyenn believe she was out to kill him, and based on those draconic eyes, she was definitely of the dragon race.
"Y-YOU!" he screamed, his voice high-pitched, completely betraying his tough exterior. He pointed a shaking finger at her, his body instinctively backing away from her unsettling aura. "Who the hell are you?! Buzz off!"
But the girl merely chuckled, her grin widening as she stuck her hand out in an overly casual, almost friendly manner, as though they were old acquaintances.
"Yuuna," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, her voice light and playful, completely at odds with the atmosphere. "Nice to meet ya! I heard ya hate the draconic gods—"
Xyenn didn't let her finish. Something primal, some deep-seated fear, overtook him. Without thinking, he turned and leaped from the edge of the pit, his body twisting through the air as he screamed like a terrified child.
"You'll never take me alive, demon! Dragon!"
Yuuna blinked, her hand still outstretched, her grin faltering for the briefest of moments. Then, her expression twisted into one of annoyance, her brows furrowing as she watched him plummet.
"You brat!" she shouted after him, her voice echoing down the pit. "I'm not here to kill you!"
As Xyenn fell, his thoughts raced. 'They heard me that fast?! Shit! I shouldn't have done that! I won't let them take me out! I'll do it myself! I can tell by those eyes, she's one of them! She's probably an agent sent to wipe me out! The draconic deities can't even confront me personally, they probably think I'm not worth their time!'
The wind whipped past his face as he hurtled toward the ground, the bones below rushing up to meet him. But before he could reach the bottom, there was a flutter of wings above him, dark and ominous.
Yuuna was flying after him, her black and dark pinkish-red wings spreading wide as she dove toward him, her hand outstretched.
"You're insane!" she called, her voice filled with exasperation as she closed the distance between them.
Xyenn looked up, his eyes wild with panic.
"No, you're all insane!" he yelled back.
And then—KATHOOM!
Xyenn hit the ground with a sickening thud, his body crumpling onto the pile of ancient bones. Dead.
For a moment, everything was still, the only sound the soft rustle of Yuuna's wings as she touched down beside his lifeless form. She knelt over him, her brows furrowed in irritation.
"Idiot…" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. But just as her fingers brushed against his cold skin, a surge of dark magic crackled through the air.
In that moment, something happened.
Seconds later...
Xyenn's eyes snapped open. His breath came in shallow, panicked gasps as he found himself standing on a floating stone platform, suspended in an endless void of swirling black and grey clouds.
"Where am I?" He said to himself; The air was thick with an oppressive silence, broken only by the faint hum of runes glowing beneath his feet. The runes, written in a forgotten language, pulsed with an eerie light, their shapes twisting like living things. They whispered of death, of the finality of life, and the eternal cycle of decay. They read:
"All must fall into the void. The end is the beginning. The breath of life fades, and in its place, the cold hand of death reigns."
Xyenn's head spun. His gaze darted around the strange, ethereal realm. "Is this…"
Before him, in the center of the platform, sat a throne—massive, carved from obsidian, its surface etched with the same glowing runes. Upon the throne sat Death itself.
The figure was imposing, towering even while seated. Its form was draped in a black robe that seemed to swallow all light, the fabric shifting like smoke. Long black hair cascaded down its back, framing a face that was nothing but a skull, hollow eyes staring into the void. Two black horns curled outward from its eye sockets, giving it a demonic, draconic appearance. Black wings stretched from its back, their edges sharp, and a dragon's tail, covered in dark scales, coiled around the throne. The figure held a scythe, the blade gleaming, adorned with black roses that sprouted from its skeletal form.
"You have cheated death, mortal." The voice was low, a deep rumble that seemed to vibrate through the very air itself.
Xyenn blinked, his mind racing to catch up. "W-What...?"
'This isn't good. I could've sworn I took myself out back there as that crazy dragon woman was chasing me, trying to eat me.'
Death leaned forward slightly, its hollow gaze piercing through him.
"On impact, Yuuna's blood mingled with your own. It is a curse, a revival through draconic demonic magic. You were meant to die. But now, you stand here, alive, but only because of her."
Xyenn's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to process what Death was saying. "So… I'm not dead?"
Death's eyes flickered with a dim light.
"You should be. Those without the blessing of the draconic gods cannot live again. But now, you are neither truly alive nor dead. A twisted existence, granted by her interference."
Xyenn's jaw dropped. "What?!"
Before he could say more, a sharp pain erupted in his back. He doubled over, groaning as his body began to change. His spine twisted, and with a sickening crack, a black, reddish-pink dragon tail sprouted from his lower back, thrashing wildly. His fingers lengthened, his nails sharpening into claws, the skin around them turning a dark, scaly black. His wings tore through his back, the same dark pinkish-red as Yuuna's, ripping through his flesh as he gasped in pain.
A halo—dark pink and white—flickered into existence above his head, casting an eerie light over his face. His skin, once smooth, was now covered in patches of black dragon scales, spreading across his arms and face. His teeth sharpened into fangs, and when he glanced at his reflection in the black stone beneath his feet, his eyes were no longer his own. They were thin, slitted like a dragon's.
He was changing.
And standing above him, Death watched with hollow eyes.
"You are marked now, cursed by her blood. The gods will hunt you down. You will never find peace. I can't believe she would actually go and bond with a human, with no power at that. Has she really stopped this low..?"
Xyenn's heart pounded, his breath ragged. "What… what the hell have you done to me?!"
From above, Yuuna's voice echoed through the void, filled with a mix of amusement and irritation.
"Welcome to the club, idiot!"
But this time, her voice wasn't just above him. It was inside him, filling his mind as if she had become part of his very soul.
Xyenn's eyes widened in realization. He wasn't just cursed with her blood. She was inside him.
"Get out of me!" Xyenn exclaimed.
"No! Don't you feel this power?! It feels super awesome right?!"
"I.."
'It feels great, it feels like I've eaten too much though. Like I was hungry and now I've eaten. But I'm some weird spiritual way, I can't describe it. Why is she helping me?! After I just cursed her own kind?'
Xyenn stood frozen on the floating platform, his mind still reeling from the transformation, his body aching, foreign, as he struggled with the weight of Yuuna's presence now coursing through him. The swirling black and gray clouds churned ominously, reacting to the tension between him and Death. The ancient figure loomed before him, silent and menacing, his massive scythe gleaming faintly, black roses swaying along the blade with an unnatural grace.
Suddenly, Xyenn felt a sharp, burning sensation on his forehead, and before he could comprehend what was happening, a third eye—slitted, draconic, and glowing with a crimson light—opened in the center of his brow. His vision blurred momentarily, the world growing hazy as something deeper than himself took control.
Yuuna's voice echoed from within, but it wasn't just in his mind this time. Her words spoke through the eye, her presence manifesting through the newly-formed eye, which pulsed with her chaotic energy. Her tone was dripping with lazy disdain, her usual chaotic glee barely contained.
"Ugh, this guy…" she muttered. "You'd think after all these millennia, he'd get bored of the whole 'grim reaper' shtick."
Death's hollow gaze fixed on Xyenn, though it was clear he wasn't looking at Xyenn anymore. He was staring directly into the glowing draconic eye, recognizing the presence behind it. The air around them grew colder, the atmosphere thickening as Death's grip on his scythe tightened.
"You know my purpose, Yuuna," Death replied, his voice as cold and ancient as the void itself. "I exist to maintain the balance. I serve the First Dragon and the draconic deities, as I always have. As I always will."
Xyenn could feel Yuuna's irritation bubbling up inside him, her energy crackling within his veins. His lips twisted into a grin that wasn't his own as Yuuna's voice came out in a mocking tone. "Blah, blah, blah. Balance this, serve that. Have you ever thought for a second about how boring it must be to spend eternity cleaning up after those cosmic idiots?" His body leaned forward slightly, the draconic eye narrowing. "You could, I don't know, find a hobby? Maybe grow some of those roses somewhere that isn't a death weapon?"
Death's gaze remained impassive, but the air seemed to darken, growing heavier with his presence. His voice, low and resonant, cut through the tension like a blade. "This is not a discussion, Yuuna. You are the key to ending the Cycle of Rebirth. The gods will continue to hunt you. And no matter how much you resist, no matter how much you mock them, I will fulfill my role."
Xyenn's heart pounded in his chest, his own panic mingling with the strange, almost giddy chaos that Yuuna exuded. He was trapped as a vessel, helpless to stop the conversation unfolding through his own body. But it was too much—too insane.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Xyenn finally screamed, his voice breaking free for a moment, echoing across the platform. He looked around wildly, desperate for some kind of explanation. "I'M CONFUSED!"
In response, Yuuna's voice chuckled softly from the draconic eye, and Xyenn could feel her amusement bubbling up inside him. "Oh, right. You're new to all this," she said. "Let me break it down for ya."
Xyenn's body shifted, almost casually, as Yuuna began to explain through him. "Kyrrin, the world you know? Yeah, born from the breath of ancient draconic deities. Big, cosmic lizards that shaped the mountains, seas, skies—you get the picture. But they weren't just big dumb dragons. They were the living embodiment of creation. Their blood, their breath, their very essence—it's what made everything."
Xyenn's head tilted slightly, the draconic eye glowing brighter as Yuuna continued. "And these gods you've heard about? New draconic deities? They're just the leftovers from those dragons. Their power, their divine energy, is all thanks to the dragons. But they're stuck in a really fun little game called the Cycle of Rebirth. You see, every time a god dies, they don't just disappear. Their essence scatters across the cosmos, only to reform as a new deity. Blank slate. No memories, no clue what they were before. They just keep repeating the same dumb mistakes, over and over."
Xyenn groaned internally, trying to process what Yuuna was saying. "So, these draconic gods? They need mortal worship to keep going. Without it, they fade. But they *hate* it. They resent mortals for having control over their fates. They're slaves to your prayers. Pretty funny, right?"
Death's voice cut in again, sharp and unyielding. "This is no joke, Yuuna. You are the key to breaking their chains. Your heart holds the power to end the Cycle of Rebirth. And now that they know the truth, every god and goddess will hunt you. They believe that by claiming your heart, they can escape the curse."
Xyenn's body stiffened as Yuuna's laughter bubbled up again, her voice now filled with her usual chaotic energy. "Yeah, yeah. I know. They want my heart. Big deal. Like I'm just gonna hand it over and let them off the hook." The draconic eye narrowed, glowing fiercely. "They can keep suffering for all I care. I'm not gonna die for some idiots who never cared about me."
Xyenn's mind raced, his heart pounding in his chest. "Wait… what? They want to kill you for your heart? And they'll finally stop being reborn?"
Yuuna's voice came out in a dismissive tone, her control over Xyenn's body making him shrug casually. "Eh, I've been dodging them for centuries. What's a few more divine assassins?"
Death's voice grew heavier, more ominous. "It is not just a few, Yuuna. They are united now, driven by desperation. They will not stop until you are dead, and the Cycle is broken."
The weight of Death's words hit Xyenn like a hammer. He was in way over his head. This wasn't just about him anymore. He was caught in the middle of some ancient divine war, and now, thanks to Yuuna, he was part of it.
"So… you're telling me the gods are all hunting her because she's the only way to stop this endless loop of rebirth?" Xyenn managed to ask, though it was clear Yuuna still had control.
Yuuna, speaking through Xyenn's lips, chuckled darkly. "Pretty much! Isn't it fun? I mean, they've been stuck in this miserable cycle for eons, and now they think they can just *kill me* and fix everything. It's kinda flattering, really."
Xyenn groaned, his own voice finally breaking through. "This is insane…"
'If she dies, then they'll finally stop being reborn, meaning, kingdoms will likely fall, races would lose hope, like the people. But these gods cursed me from the beginning, I was beaten helplessly and was depressed for a long time, alone for so long. I wanted to off myself earlier, but I thought I could focus and try more, maybe try and impress them by working hard or whatever to get their attention. But nahhhh.'
Xyenn asked Yuuna, "What do you plan on doing? Keep running?"
Yuuna snickered, "Haha! Hell no. Since I made a contract with you, I'm ten times stronger now. Well wipe these gods out one by one, and steal their power. I have the glutton's heart, with every force I devour, the stronger we get. You finally have power."
"…Why me?"
"Hmmmm. Because your perfect, and amazing, and—."
"Stop lying to me."
"Okay, okay. You have no power, which means you're compatible with my power. Those with power from draconic deities can't seize control of other power or blessings from a different deity. They'll combust and die veryyyyy brutally! Haha!"
"That's so dark.."
Death's hollow eyes turned to Xyenn, cold and calculating. "Whether you understand or not is irrelevant. The Cycle will continue as long as Yuuna lives. And I will fulfill my role, no matter the cost. You have cheated death, so I will make sure the price is paid."
Before Xyenn could react, the air grew thick with tension, Death's scythe glowing faintly as the runes along its blade shimmered with malevolent energy. In a blur of motion, too fast for Xyenn to process, Death was suddenly in front of him.
In one swift motion, the scythe plunged deep into Xyenn's chest. He gasped, his eyes wide with shock and pain as the cold blade pierced through him, the energy from the weapon freezing his very soul. Death's skeletal face loomed close, his hollow eyes burning with ancient purpose.
"This is for the First Dragon," Death whispered, his voice chilling Xyenn to the bone.
But just before the pain could consume him, Xyenn felt a surge of chaotic energy explode from within. Yuuna's laughter filled his mind, her presence overwhelming every corner of his consciousness. The draconic eye on his forehead burned brightly, and suddenly, he and Yuuna were one.
And then, in a moment of perfect, manic clarity, Xyenn and Yuuna laughed together, their voices blending into one twisted, defiant sound.