Two figures clad in dark, tattered coats darted through the dimly lit alleyway, their speed unnatural. Ahead of them, a young boy sprinted with all his might, desperation etched on his face. The figures were gaining ground quickly—it was only a matter of time before they caught him.
The boy rounded a corner, only to find himself trapped at a dead end. Tall, jagged walls loomed around him, blocking any hope of escape. He turned, his chest heaving, as he heard the low voices of his pursuers.
"What a sneaky little brat," one of them growled, his tone dripping with irritation. "Where'd he go?"
"Luck's on our side," the other sneered, pointing ahead. "Look, there he is."
The boy froze, his heart hammering in his chest. He had evaded death many times before, but this time, it felt inescapable.
"Ah, there you are," the first man said, a sinister grin spreading across his face. With a single thrust of his legs, he covered the distance between them in an instant, standing before the boy. The boy shrank back, trembling, but there was nowhere to run.
The man tilted his head, studying him. "Hmm. Black hair, red eyes… what a handsome little fella. Too bad today's your last."
Behind him, the second figure stood, his hands moving in intricate patterns. Symbols of light began to form in the air, glowing with ominous energy. Magic circles of various sizes materialized, their intricate carvings humming with power.
The boy's eyes widened as the spell took form. A Tier 6 spell? I'm screwed.
The mage's voice boomed, echoing through the alley as the magic circles began to spin.
"By the shadows of eternity and the void's unyielding maw,
I summon the grasp of endless night,
To unmake what once was whole.
Claim the soul and silence the spark forevermore!
Oblivion's Grasp!"
A streak of pure mana shot through the concentric circles, its intensity amplifying with each layer. The ray struck the boy square in the head.
His body remained upright, eyes still open—but the light within them was extinguished. His soul had been obliterated.
The mage lowered his hands, exhaling sharply. "Every time I cast that spell, it gives me the creeps," muttered the first man, shaking his head. "Don't you know any normal spells?"
The mage shot him a withering glare. "We don't have the luxury of using lower-tier magic here. If we waste time, we'll be caught."
"Fair point. But now what? We can't leave the body, and burning it is out of the question—the alarms will go off instantly."
"Move aside," the first man said, pulling a small, shimmering crystal from his coat.
The mage frowned. "A spell crystal? What's stored in it?"
"No time to explain." Without hesitation, the man smashed the crystal against the ground. A surge of energy erupted, engulfing the boy's lifeless body.
The air twisted and churned as the pre-recorded Tier 7 spell, Abolishment, activated. The boy's body was pulled into the void, disappearing from sight.
But something unexpected happened.
Jaiden's soul, still hurtling through the endless void, was suddenly caught in the spell's pull. The overwhelming force yanked him toward the fading spark of life. His essence clashed with the remnants of the boy's obliterated soul, forcing its way into the empty shell.
Jaiden felt an intense, searing pain as his soul reshaped itself to fit the foreign body. The sensation of bones breaking, muscles tearing, and organs being rearranged overwhelmed him. His mind screamed as it adjusted to the unfamiliar vessel.
The boy's body spasmed violently as Jaiden's consciousness took over. His chest heaved, gasping for air, and his eyes flew open—now glowing with a faint crimson light.