"Why did I have to end up like this?"
That's what I was thinking.
I'm lying on the cold ground, in a small alley in town, unable to move a single muscle in my body. Some parts are broken, and breathing hurts like hell—I probably have a bone piercing my lungs.
Why? Why did we help them? Why did we give them our time? Dad, tell me.
Why did you have to help them?
Just remembering it...
As I went about my daily chores, I managed to hear a familiar voice and approached.
Dress, one of Dad's friends, a veteran adventurer passing through town, an old comrade-in-arms of my father. He was tall and muscular, with a few scars on his body that made his life of adventure evident.
Dad ran into Dress by chance and invited him to stay with us.
On the first day, Dress seemed like a good adventurer—loyal and honorable.
But on the second day, today, I heard something I wish I could forget.
"That woman really looks delicious."
The moment I peeked into an alley, I saw Dress with two other men—they looked like adventurers, just like him.
"Tonight, we're going to have a great feast."
To Dress's right stood a bald man, slightly shorter than him. However, he had a large scar covering his face—anyone who saw him would definitely be frightened and think he was terrifying.
"Still, to think that bastard would start a family."
To Dress's left was a short man—judging by his height, sturdy build, and thick beard, he seemed to be a dwarf. However, he carried a massive axe on his back.
"That woman... she's incredible. Her breasts are really big—just imagining my face buried in them puts me in the mood."
After the dwarf said that, they all laughed at the same time.
Even though I was only 13, I could understand what they meant.
"Tonight, Burns will die."
Dress had a smile on his face when he said that.
There was no doubt—that was my father's name. I stopped looking at Dress and leaned my back against the wall, hiding.
I was a bit far, but I definitely had to go back.
But just as I was about to return home, someone grabbed my head.
My body froze. I tried to move my head, but it was impossible. I could barely move my eyes—just enough to see Dress, his hand resting on my head.
His gaze was serious and cold.
"Listening in secret is a bad habit, kid."
Dress lifted me by the head. I struggled, twisting my body to break free, but it was useless.
"Guys, we've got company."
Dress threw me toward the other two adventurers as if I were nothing—as if I were trash. The moment I hit the ground, I heard something snap, followed by a sharp pain in my arm.
"I personally don't like killing children,"
said the dwarf as his cold eyes settled on me.
I tried to endure the pain, biting my lips hard as tears welled up in my eyes.
"I don't like it either, but... a few hits should be fine—just enough to keep him out for a few days."
The bald adventurer walked toward me and sent a kick straight into my stomach.
"Kuh!"
I was sent flying several meters before crashing into a wall. All the air was knocked out of my body, making it hard to breathe. The pain coursing through me only made it even harder to endure.
"Wait."
Dress stopped the bald adventurer in his tracks.
"What's wrong?" the bald adventurer asked, clear confusion on his face.
"This is how you should hit him."
Dress walked toward me. I tried to back away, but my back pressed against the cold wall. Desperation and pain flooded my body.
I shut my eyes tight and clenched my teeth, bracing for the impact—but the blow I expected never came.
Slowly, I opened my eyes, only to see Dress swinging a kick straight at my face. My head smashed against the ground, and for a moment, I lost consciousness.
"Wow, you're surprisingly tough."
The bald adventurer grabbed me by my clothes, lifting me into the air before slamming me back down onto the floor. The moment my back hit the ground, the air rushed out of my body, and I felt several bones snap. Blood poured from my wounds, and my black hair was soaked in it.
The dwarf adventurer just stood there, watching me get beaten, a smile on his face.
When I thought they had finally finished...
Two things pressed down on my chest—Dress and the bald adventurer had placed their feet on me.
"Please, stop," I tried to plead, but it was useless.
Dress and the bald adventurer began to stomp on my body, my bones creaked, I started to choke on my own blood, and it was hard to breathe. My body was so numb that at some point I stopped feeling it. My consciousness began to fade, my eyes were closing, and I could only hear the blows and the laughter of those men in front of me.
"You are weak. Do you think a child will change anything? You are nothing, useless. Your death would mean nothing to the world. If anyone is to blame, it's you. Because of you, the world abandoned you, and because of you, everyone will die—your mother and your sister. Fuuu, it will be a feast."
That was the last thing I heard before losing consciousness.
***
The moment I opened my eyes and could react, a strong regret flooded my mind. Because of my father, everything would end. Because of me, for being weak, I could only lament.
When I could see clearly around me, I was in an alley, but it was a different one. My body hurt like hell, and I could barely breathe. My body was starting to feel cold, and my mind was slowly clouding over.
I looked up at the sky; the sun, which was at its highest point, was now almost hidden.
"I have to go back," I said to myself.
I tried to move, but my whole body was burning.
"This is the end, eh?"
As I was giving up internally, I began to feel strong vibrations in the ground. I was confused and didn't understand what was happening, but it didn't matter; at this rate, I was going to die.
I closed my eyes, waiting for my end. I was angry, a silent rage began to build up inside me—hatred, hatred for myself, hatred for the adventurers, hatred for everyone, hatred for the world.
"Haha, this world has truly abandoned me."
I could only laugh as my vision slowly darkened.
"Mom, Dad, Sister."
The only people important to me.
My eyes began to close; I was tired and felt cold. Just as my eyes were almost shut...
[World Connection - Connecting]
Suddenly, a voice began to resonate in my head.
[Syncing]
[Sync Failure - Fragmenting]
[Memories of Fallen God - Acquired]
[Conditions Met - Blessing of Fallen God Acquired]
[Bearer's Body in Critical Danger - Stabilizing]
After hearing that, a slight warmth spread through my body, and the intense pain began to lessen.
[Bearer's Body - Stabilized]
[Close your heart to their despair, close your heart to their suffering, do not allow yourself to feel for them, they will not feel for you]
[Good luck]
I couldn't help but be shocked after hearing that sudden voice. However, my body still hurt, but at least I could move a little.
I lifted the upper part of my body.
Although I could barely feel it, it was enough to start moving. I still don't understand what happened or what that sudden voice in my head was. The only thing I'm sure of is that my head is a mess. Maybe... I can still make it in time.
However, after thinking that, the vibrations in the ground intensified. I could clearly feel the vibrations, and a bad premonition reverberated through my entire body.
As I tried to get up, a loud crash echoed around, and screams began to emerge. In less than a second, I knew the reason.
"Stampede."
Although it's rare, it's definitely not impossible for it to happen. However, this is a village far from the big cities, and according to my parents, stampedes are usually controlled by a superior monster
Usually, these kinds of situations only affect cities with large resources. As I thought about that, I lifted my body off the ground. Slowly but steadily, my body was healing, probably having something to do with that voice I had heard earlier.
Using one hand to support myself against the wall, I managed to get out of the alley, but the sight in front of me was absolutely disastrous.
I was in an alley on the far outskirts of the village, and my house was on the other side of this place.
But that wasn't the worst part. In the distance, I could see houses being destroyed by those uncontrollable beasts. They had four legs, were jet black, and had three horns emerging from their heads. I had never seen that beast before, nor had I heard about it in my father's stories. I could also see people being impaled by the horns of those beasts, others being thrown through the air, and many others trying to fight them without any success. Their skin seemed so tough that their weapons simply broke upon contact.
"Getting to my house will be complicated," I murmured.
With my body in this state, I could hardly run, and even if I were in my best possible condition, it would be impossible to escape from them; the difference was abysmal.
However, while I was internally debating what I should do, a snort caught my attention. One of those beasts was running in my direction with a person impaled on its three horns on its head. But there was a problem: that person was still alive and had two swords firmly held in their hands. But I knew that person, that black hair and those clothes—I definitely knew them, but I didn't want to accept it. I refused to accept it. The blood of that person was running down the beast's head, and in a desperate attack, that person drove both swords into the beast's eyes, stopping its movement and falling to the ground along with it.
"Mom."
That person, that woman, was my mother.
"Mom!"
Instinctively, I ran towards her. Although my body hurt, I didn't want to stop. I was desperate, anxious, and couldn't think clearly. The only thing I wanted was to help her. However, the closer I got, the more reality hit me hard.
My mother, who was still being pierced by the beast's three horns, her blood flowing and soaking the ground around her, turned her gaze towards me. Her face was expressionless, with a couple of tears falling down her cheeks, but the moment she saw me, the light returned to her eyes.
"Are you okay?"
My mother asked me as a smile formed on her face.
"Yes... yes, I'm fine,"
I responded desperately as tears began to form in my eyes.
"I'm glad..."
My mother's smile was warm and calm, as if she were satisfied for some reason.
"Mom, your body is..."
"It's okay, this had to happen at some point... it's the cycle of life, we are all born... and we all die..."
Suddenly, my mother began to cough up blood.
I moved even closer to my mother and took her hand while crying uncontrollably. I wanted to help her, but it was impossible for me. I was weak, extremely weak. The only thing I could do was cry; words wouldn't come out of my throat.
"It's okay, Reinhart..."
Mom said my name, and with just that simple word, my mind cleared, and I was able to calm down a bit. However, the tears still flowed.
"But..."
I was desperate; my mother's skin was becoming paler, and her eyes were losing their shine.
Mom slowly placed her hand on my head.
"Even though we were together for 14 years, you truly were one of the best moments of my life... being a mother, raising you alongside your sister, forming a family was wonderful... I really thank you for being born as my son... you are my pride, sincerely... it hurts me to leave you this way..."
A small tear fell down her cheeks.
"Mom..."
"I want to leave you my swords... even though I won't be with you, I want them to protect you."
Mom extended her hands to take the swords and give them to me, but with that movement, much more blood began to gush from her wound. However, that smile never left her face.
Yet, the swords that were once silver turned jet black when they touched my hands.
"Mom, this..."
"The name of these swords... is Twilight Obsidian... they will grow with you... please, Reinhart, survive."
After saying that, my mother's hands fell limp, while I held both swords in my hands. They were heavy.
My mind stopped functioning.
"Mom... died?"
I stood there, looking at my mother. That smile never left her face; she died with a smile.
If Mom was here, without Dad and my sister, then...
They probably died.
My overwhelming emotions were somehow barely being controlled as I looked at my mother's lifeless body.
My body hurt, my heart hurt.
Then I remembered part of the words I had heard from that mysterious voice:
Close your heart to their despair, close your heart to their suffering.
I turned my gaze towards the village. Beasts were attacking everyone, blood was scattered everywhere, dismembered bodies, unrecognizable corpses, pieces of flesh that once had a human shape, and I was drenched in my mother's blood. Houses were collapsing and burning.
In the distance, I could see three adventurers. I knew them; they were the three adventurers who had brutally beaten me almost to death. I saw them.
They were brutally trampled and killed by those beasts.
"This can no longer be called home."
I sighed with sorrow, trying to calm my mind. I couldn't fall into despair; my mother wanted me to survive, and that's what I'll do, no matter what.
I turned my gaze back to my mother.
I took the belt that was around her waist, quickly put it on, and placed the swords at my sides.
"I'm sorry."
With great difficulty, I removed my mother's impaled body. She wasn't very large, so it wasn't hard to carry her. Her body wasn't very big, and I was tall for my age.
I didn't want to leave her here; she didn't deserve it.
I walked towards the outskirts of the village while carrying my mother in my arms. The sounds of screams and the fire from the houses diminished with each step I took.
It was hard, extremely hard, but somehow I managed to get far enough away from the village. I was tired, very tired, but I couldn't stop; I shouldn't stop.
I had to keep going.
Two hours passed.
Three hours passed.
My body was at its limit.
Six hours later, I arrived at a waterfall, a beautiful waterfall in the middle of the night illuminated by the moonlight. I didn't encounter any beasts along the way, probably due to the stampede.
I entered the stream running beside it with my mother, to clean off some of the blood, and the smile on her face somehow calmed me.
"This will be the place."
If she could see this view, she would definitely be delighted.
I dug a hole with the help of the swords a few meters from the waterfall and buried my mother a couple of hours later. I placed some stones from the stream as if they were a tombstone over her.
My body was exhausted, but when I finished, I saw the dawn in the sky, and my knees gave way.
I took the swords that were at my side and buried them in the ground, as if it were a knight's promise.
"I will survive, no matter what, no matter how, but I promise you I will."
For a moment, I felt someone touch my head, but it had to be my imagination; I was alone in this place.
So please, Mother, allow me to cry one last time.