Every night, the same nightmare replayed. Eight-year-old Kairos was trapped in a fiery inferno, the screams of his friends from orphanage echoing in his ears. He'd claw at the flames, desperate to save them, but his small hands were powerless. The heat was unbearable, the smoke choking. And then, darkness.

He woke with a start, his breath ragged. Another night, another haunting dream. He pulled a cloth over his scarred face, a familiar ritual. As he left his meager quarters, the jeers and taunts of his fellow miners followed him.

"Scarface is up!" one of them jeered, his voice filled with malice.

Kairos ignored them, his gaze fixed on the mine entrance. As he delved deeper into the darkness, the dim light of his lantern casting eerie shadows, he struck something hard. A metal box, glinting ominously in the dim light. Curiosity piqued, he pried it open. Inside, nestled on a bed of velvet, was a simple silver ring.

He slipped the ring onto his finger, a strange sensation tingling through him. As he looked back at the box, it vanished into thin air. A moment of confusion, then a shout from his supervisor snapped him back to reality. "Get back to work, you lazy lout!"

Kairos returned to his task, the mysterious ring forgotten, his mind clouded by the harsh reality of his life.

He worked for hours, then took a lunch break. During that time, he bought a bread and went to a corner where no one could see him. He uncovered his face and started eating. He noticed some people could manipulate their shovels to work for them without touching it. He knew they were mutated humans with the power to manipulate metal. Unlike them, he wasn't born with any special powers. He was an ordinary man whom no one liked.

After lunch, he started working again, covering his face. Hours passed, and he was so focused on his work that he didn't realize everyone had left. It wasn't until an hour later that he decided to take a rest, only to find that everyone was gone. He decided to head back.

As he was leaving, the tunnel started shaking. He was scared. He hurried, but as it is said Misfortune comes never alone, his feet got stuck in a rock, and he fell face-first. The ceiling of the tunnel collapsed the next second.... But somehow he survived. It could be said the rock saved him. He lay there, sighing in relief, at least he survived. He decided to wait for help.

Outside the tunnel, the mine workers were relieved to have escaped the collapse. No one noticed that someone was still trapped inside. It wasn't until two or three days later, during the investigation, that they realized a worker was missing. They assumed he had left the site after the tunnel fell.

Fifteen days passed, and Kairos was still trapped under the rubble. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything for last fifteen days and was on the verge of death. His willpower was the only thing keeping him alive.

Finally, his strength gave out. "It's time for me to meet my friends," he thought. His eyes slowly closing "I fulfilled my promise to you, Miss Sasha. I never thought of giving up, not even once. Sorry, Aeliana, I couldn't fulfill my promise to meet you again. But it's for the best. You're the daughter of the Vampire Queen, whom I owe my life to. I didn't want her to hate me, by making her daughter heartbroken. I know that women cares a lot about me, even after she saw my scared face. She even tried to convert me into a Vampire by some Demonic ritual, but I am such a incompetent brat, nothing worked. I always feel guilty about leaving without telling them even once. But, I still think that decision of mine was one of the best. At that time, Aeliana was only 10 years old and she would have easily forgotten about me. Hahaha... Ha ...ah, Who remembers a scared face." He touched his scar "This scar is the most painful thing if my life, it always makes me remember, my incompetence in saving my friends. But, it is good... Finally, I am going to meet with them."

With those final thoughts, Kairos took his last breath. But just as his life was about to end...

< The Almighty Ring, The Absolute's Arsenal, has finally chosen its host. Your strong willpower and mentality to never hating those who harmed you and only caring about your loved ones, have unlocked the key. So, be ready to become the next ******** of existence.>