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The world blurred as Souta sprinted through the dense forest, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Behind him, the echoes of battle still rang in his ears—clashing steel, the roar of flames, and the screams of his neighbors. His once-peaceful village was gone, reduced to ash and rubble by the soldiers who came searching for the Void Seal.
But why me? Why now? The questions clawed at his mind, but there was no time to think.
The dark sphere pulsed faintly in his hand, emitting a low hum that seemed to resonate with his heartbeat. The Void Seal—a thing of legend—had somehow chosen him. He didn't understand its power, but he could feel it. The cold, weightless energy coursing through his veins was both terrifying and intoxicating.
"Keep moving!" he whispered to himself, forcing his legs to carry him further.
As he stumbled deeper into the forest, the whispers began again. Faint at first, like wind through the trees, but soon they grew louder, forming words.
"Use me..."
"Erase them all..."
"End their suffering."
Souta froze, his eyes darting around the shadowed woods. "Who's there?" he demanded, clutching the Seal tighter.
There was no reply—only the whispers, now echoing inside his head.
"Get out of my mind!" he shouted, but the whispers only laughed, cold and hollow.
Suddenly, a sharp crack pierced the silence. Souta spun around, his eyes locking onto a figure emerging from the trees. It was a soldier, one of the invaders, his armor glinting faintly in the moonlight. The man smirked, raising his blade.
"You can't run forever, boy," the soldier taunted. "Hand over the Seal, and I might make your death quick."
Souta's grip tightened around the Void Seal. The whispers grew louder, urging him to act. He felt the power stirring within him, cold and unyielding.
The soldier lunged, his sword slicing through the air. Instinctively, Souta raised his hand. The Void Seal flared with dark light, and in an instant, the space around the soldier seemed to... disappear.
It was as if the man had been swallowed by nothingness, his form erased from existence. Souta stumbled back, his chest heaving as the realization hit him.
"What... what have I done?"
The whispers laughed again, louder now. "You are mine, Souta. Together, we will destroy this world and rebuild it anew."
Tears welled in his eyes as he stared at the spot where the soldier had stood. He didn't want this power—this curse. But there was no escaping it now.
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Later That Night
Souta found shelter in the ruins of an old shrine deep within the forest. The structure was overgrown with vines, its stone walls cracked and weathered by time. He collapsed against the altar, clutching his knees to his chest.
As the hours passed, the whispers faded, leaving only silence. Exhaustion overcame him, and his mind drifted.
When he awoke, the faint light of dawn was filtering through the trees. But he was no longer alone.
A young woman stood at the entrance of the shrine, her emerald-green cloak swaying in the breeze. She had sharp, intelligent eyes and a dagger at her side.
"You're not very good at hiding," she said, her voice carrying a mix of amusement and suspicion. "But I suppose subtlety isn't an option when you're carrying that." Her gaze flicked to the Void Seal in his hand.
Souta scrambled to his feet, gripping the Seal protectively. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The woman raised her hands in a gesture of peace. "Relax. If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead." She smirked. "Name's Ayame. And you... you've got something the whole world is after. Lucky me for finding you first."
Souta narrowed his eyes. "Stay back. I don't want to hurt anyone."
Ayame tilted her head, studying him. "Hurt me? Oh, I think it's the other way around." She took a step closer. "But if you're serious about not dying, you'll need my help. That Seal of yours is a death sentence unless you figure out how to control it."
Souta hesitated, unsure if he could trust her. But as the whispers began to stir again, he realized he might not have a choice.
"Fine," he said finally. "But if you try anything—"
"Relax, Voidborn," Ayame interrupted with a grin. "We're on the same side. For now."
And so, a reluctant alliance was formed, the first step on a journey that would shake the very foundations of the world.
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