After everyone had finally settled from the Soul Eater's last attack, Kael rose to his feet, his voice steady but edged with urgency.
"Do you know where I can find it?" he asked.
The village elder, a frail man with eyes clouded by age, lifted his head. His words came slow, each one weighed with dread.
"It dwells deep in the Land of No Life… a place that steals breath, breaks the living, and births the being that takes all life. Few who wander there ever return."
"What does that even mean?" Kael pressed.
"We call that place Zero," the elder said gravely. "If you take the eastern path now, by sunrise you will stand at the edge of the Soul Eaters' territory."
"Then I must hurry," Kael replied. "I leave at once."
"It is too late in the night for a child to wander," Fenric objected, his tone sharp.
Kael gave a faint, fearless smile. "I am not so easily broken."
"No… it is still too risky," Fenric argued.
"Risk has always been my life," Kael answered firmly. "Those who never face it have no right to question those who do."
Fenric fell silent, unable to counter the weight of his words. Finally, he gave a reluctant nod.
"Kael, I will go with you," Yui said softly.
"No, Yui." Kael shook his head. "If I am not alone, I cannot hold back."
Inside, a darker thought stirred. If things grow desperate, I may have to call on the Blood Beast.
I knew it, you greedy brat, the beast's voice rumbled within him. This whole time, you've been waiting for an excuse to use me.
Hey—it's my mind. Stop prying into my thoughts, Kael snapped back inwardly.
"Kael, please… I will not trouble you," Yui insisted.
"No, Yui. Understand—it is best for me to go alone."
Her gaze wavered, but she did not press further. "Then at least… let me walk you to the village gate."
"…Very well," Kael agreed.
When the time came, the villagers gathered quietly, their lanterns swaying in the cold night air. Their faces carried both fear and fragile hope. A child clutched at his mother's hand, an old man muttered a prayer under his breath, and Yui walked silently at Kael's side.
They stopped at the edge of the village. Beyond lay the road to the east, swallowed by shadows and mist.
Under the dim light of the fading moon, the villagers watched in silence as Kael took his first step toward Zero.
Author:
Souls are indentified by ranking system.The more no of stars the more higher status.
There are 6 stars,from 1 to 6. Soul world is divided into 2 halfs,Low soul world and upper soul world.
Normally soul with 1-4 stars lives in low soul world. 5 & 6 star souls live in upper soul world.
1 and 2 star souls have usually non-human form with no intelligence of them. 3-6 star souls have both soul and human form. Soul eater,as called by low soul world's people are 1-2 star souls,
Reiko,proclaimed himself as the king of soul eater,is a 5 star soul the higest star soul in low soul world.
5 and 6 star souls have there special powers,4 star usually don't have any special power. When a person dies his power in his prime is judged to decide its star in the soul world.
Zero is the region where the lowest star souls reside.
[Back to soul World]
Kael stood at the edge of Zero. The land before him was hostile and unwelcoming. The ground shifted beneath his feet, uneven and jagged, sloping unpredictably into shadowed dips. Rocks jutted out like teeth, and the air carried a faint, sulfurous scent.
So this is their land. My goal is to free them and return to Ivan as quickly as possible, Kael thought, stepping carefully.
His boots scraped against the soil, and he stumbled slightly. The ground wasn't right—it tilted downward in places he hadn't expected. Trees leaned at odd angles, and the shadows stretched and twisted, hinting at hidden traps. Only at the last moment did Kael notice the slope: a steep drop lined with sharp rocks, as if the land itself sought to swallow intruders.
He shifted his path, moving southeast to avoid the more treacherous areas. The terrain fought him at every step, but Kael's senses sharpened with each misstep.
After a long walk, he spotted a group of souls. They were twisted, malformed—souls without substance, only the faintest semblance of structure. He froze, realizing their movements were deliberate, almost predatory.
Better to avoid them, he thought, pressing forward cautiously. But then the ground beneath him gave way. He tumbled into a pit, rocks scraping his arms and legs.
"No way… I fell for this trap," he muttered under his breath. Above him, the faint rustle of waiting enemies reached his ears.
Kael clenched his fists, channeling power into his legs and shoulders. Muscles coiling like steel springs, he propelled himself upward, inch by agonizing inch. Sweat dripped from his brow, but he refused to yield.
When he finally emerged, he realized too late that the soul eaters had anticipated his move. They had positioned themselves ten meters away, their grotesque forms silhouetted in the dim light.
Kael drew his sword, the Aran Blade gleaming faintly in the shadowed air.
"Aran Sword Style: Blazing Sun," he declared.
Flames erupted along the blade, surging from molten gold to blinding white. The heat surged outward, scorching the air and shimmering the ground beneath him. Shadows recoiled from the brilliance, and the nearby soil and stones cracked from the intensity.
The soul eaters were caught in the inferno. Their forms trembled, then evaporated into nothingness as the flames consumed them completely. The ground cooled slowly, leaving behind scorched marks and the faint scent of burnt ozone.
Kael lowered his sword, chest heaving, yet his gaze remained steady. The path through Zero lay ahead, treacherous and unforgiving, but he would not falter. Not now. Not ever.
He continued walking, each step crunching against the scorched soil. The mists of Zero swirled around him like pale fingers, veiling the land beyond. Kael's eyes darted from shadow to shadow, searching for any sign of movement.
I need information, he thought. Anything that can lead me deeper, faster.
As he pressed on, the oppressive silence broke. A figure stood in the path ahead, waiting. The shape was unmistakably different from the formless souls Kael had seen before—tall, solid, draped in tattered yet regal cloth that fluttered in the stale wind. The air itself seemed to still around him.
Kael stopped, hand drifting to his sword's hilt. His instincts screamed danger.
The figure lowered his head and, to Kael's surprise, bent one knee. His voice was deep, yet soft with reverence.
"Welcome back, master."
Kael froze. "What…?"
He stepped forward warily, sword still drawn. "Who are you? And why are you bowing to me?"
The figure raised his head. His eyes glowed faintly, a deep gold, but there was no malice in them—only a strange, unwavering loyalty.
"My name is Reiro," he said. "General of the former Soul Prince."
Kael blinked. "Former Soul Prince?"
Reiro inclined his head slightly. "My prince, allow me to explain. You carry three souls within you. One of them… is the soul of my master—the previous Soul Prince. He has accepted you as his vessel. By his will, you are now my master as well."
The words sank in like stones into water. Kael's grip on his sword tightened.
"What are you saying?"
Reiro's gaze never wavered."You are its rightful heir. The soul inside you has already chosen. May I know your name, and serve you faithfully?"
"wait i still don't understand all this?",asked kael.
"Ok lets start from the beginning",said Reiro.