On a clear night, the moon cast a gentle glow over the world below, its soft light caressing the homes in its path. A chilly breeze from the east brushed against the buildings, whispering through the night. But this night was not an ordinary one—it was my son Marky Astolfo's seventh birthday. A large cake adorned with candles awaited him. My wife, Uliana Astolfo, and I were celebrating this small birthday party with boundless joy.
"Here you go, son. A gift for the birthday boy," I said, handing him a large gift box.
"Wow, thanks, Dad! The gift is so big!" Marky exclaimed, his eyes wide with delight.
"And this is from me," Uliana added, presenting her gift.
Seeing my son's broad smile warmed our hearts. Despite being a poor family, if this warmth could last forever, I would be incredibly happy.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. The wooden floor beneath us trembled as if struck by an invisible wave. Glasses filled with drinks jumped into the air from the table. The hanging light fixture vibrated violently, making the light flicker on and off.
"It seemed like an earthquake. Quickly, take cover under the table!" I instructed.
Marky and Uliana complied.
But what happened next was far more terrifying than the earthquake itself. An explosion rocked the front of our house, throwing my wife, son, and me far behind the backyard.
Our small house, which held a million memories, was instantly engulfed in flames. As I looked around, I realized that it wasn't just our home that was destroyed. Our neighbors' houses and the entire area were ravaged by the explosion and the raging fire.
The night was filled with the anguished cries of those affected.
"Marky! Uliana! Are you okay?" I called out as I rushed to them. Thankfully, neither of them was severely injured, only slightly scratched.
"What's happening?" Uliana asked, coughing from the thick smoke.
"I don't know, but we need to get out of here immediately!" I urged.
"Dad, look up there!" Marky shouted, pointing to the sky.
A fleet of warplanes emerged from behind the clouds. Soldiers in combat gear, armed with deadly weapons, began parachuting down one by one. Gunfire erupted, cutting down all the civilians in an instant. Many tried to escape, but none succeeded.
I quickly grabbed my son and wife, pulling them toward safety. No matter what was happening, their safety was far more important. I ran into an alley, avoiding the main road and the attackers as best I could. I had no idea where these people came from, but if we were caught, we would all die.
"Hey you right there, stop!"
A laser shot my leg while I was running. I fell to the ground instantly. My leg felt like it had been cut off, and I couldn't feel anything down there. And sure enough, when I looked, my left leg was gone from the laser shot just now. It was so painful.
Uliana tried to help me up, but it was no use. With the current state of my leg I would only be a burden to the two of them. There was no other choice, for both of them I had to sacrifice myself.
"Uliana, my beloved wife, please take Marky as far away from here as possible. I will not survive."
"No! I will not leave without you." Uliana's tears streamed down her cheeks.
" Just go! If you stay here, we'll all die! Please, only you can save our son."
I pushed her body as far away from me as possible. Reluctantly, she lowered her gaze and left as far as possible without looking back. I was happy to see that she could finally leave with the only son we had. Hopefully they could survive this onslaught.
Suddenly, a cannonball flew from the sky and struck my wife's body. Her body shattered into pieces in the blink of an eye. Marky bounced back to me.
"No! Uliana!" I screamed as loudly as I could until my last breath. Her death was so quick, so unceremonious, that I couldn't help but mourn her passing.
This was no time for sorrow. Uliana's death couldn't be for nothing. At the very least, I had to ensure my son's safety.
"Marky, get out of here as fast as you can before you become the next victim!"
But it was too late.
Before he could even move, a soldier had already seized Marky from behind.
Then, out of nowhere, a man dressed in extravagant attire descended from the sky, floating gracefully toward us. He was flying—gliding through the air with an otherworldly elegance, like a deity. But it wasn't just one. Four of these lavishly dressed beings hovered in front of me.
One soldier, clad in different armor from the others, reported to the four celestial figures.
"My lords, we've found a rare species."
"Really?" A man in a green robe, his crown studded with glittering jewels, drifted closer, his feet never touching the ground as if he feared dirtying his shoes. "Is it this man?" he asked, eyes locked onto me.
"No, it's the boy. He's likely the one we're looking for."
"Very well. Take him to the ship."
"Give back my son, you bastard!" I yelled, and the robed man turned to glare at me with a piercing intensity.
"How dare you speak to us like that. What is your name, mortal?" His voice was thunderous, shaking me to my core. A chill of terror gripped me as he spoke.
"Rhinggamana Astolfo."
"Rhinggamana, do you not recognize who we are? We are gods. A mere mortal like yourself should be able to show more respect to a superior being."
"I don't care! Give me back my son now!"
"What a poor thing, your son has been chosen for a higher purpose. You should feel grateful that creatures like you can take part in the evolution of the world that will help us create paradise."
"Screw your purpose! Let my son go now, or I'll be pissed off."
"What can you do under these circumstances? You're just a useless piece of trash, unable to resist my great power. Take the boy to the ship quickly."
" Dad!" Marky cried out in despair as he was dragged up there. I, who was still being held captive by this soldier, could do nothing.
"What are we going to do with this man," asked the soldier holding me.
"Kill him."
"On it."
"You filthy creature! Remember this, your behavior will definitely be punished. Even if I die, someone will stop you one day!"
"I can't wait for that day to come," the man in the green robe and his companion entered the airship, flying away into the sky.
A soldier who offered me a hand took a sword from his belt. Then slashed my neck. The next thing I knew, my head had jumped into the air apart from my body on the ground. I was speechless, it felt like all my senses had shut down. My consciousness slowly disappeared somewhere.
Everything was dark.
Silence.
There was only emptiness.
I felt like I had entered a very dark hallway. Where am I?
Suddenly, at the far end of the passage, a blinding light pierced through the darkness. It drew closer, a radiant glow that overwhelmed my senses. I felt myself being swallowed whole by this divine brilliance. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a breathtaking scene.
A lush green garden stretched out before me, under a vast blue sky with a gentle breeze brushing against my skin. Small animals—squirrels, rabbits, and cats—circled around me as if I were their master. The sweet chirping of sparrows filled the air, creating a melody that was utterly enchanting. Everything here filled me with an indescribable joy. As far as I could see, the landscape was a mesmerizing expanse of green.
It was peaceful here. Had I died?
"Yes, you are in heaven now." A powerful voice jolted me from my thoughts.
The owner of the voice was indescribable. He resembled a human, yet his entire form radiated light—a brilliant, calming yellow. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace in his presence.
"Who are you?"
"I am Gabriel, the angel who has brought you here."
So it was true. I had died.
"You don't seem happy."
"Indeed, I'm not. If I'm dead, who will save my son? He's being held hostage by invaders who descended from the sky, destroying our home. We were celebrating a peaceful birthday, and now everything lies in ruins. My poor son didn't even get to open his gifts. And my wife... she died right before my eyes. Damn it! If only I had the power to stop it all!"
My anger surged, consuming me. This beautiful place, meant to be a paradise, felt like a cruel joke in light of how I had died and what I left behind.
"Rhinggamana Astolfo, do you wish for revenge?"
"If only I could, I would avenge the deaths of my wife and child. I wouldn't care if it meant going to hell. Their deaths must be avenged!"
"In that case, come with me. There's a gift waiting for you."
Gabriel led me to a grassy clearing where a magnificent sword was embedded in the ground, radiating an otherworldly power. Even from five meters away, I felt a dangerous aura emanating from it. Every instinct screamed for me to turn back.
"Behold, the Blerit Sword. Forged by the hands of God himself. If you can pull it from the ground, it will be yours, and you can exact your vengeance."
"What if I fail?"
"You'll be sent straight to hell. As one who has achieved a blissful end to your eternal life, I ask you: are you willing to take this risk for revenge?"
For my son and wife, my resolve hardened. Those who took my family would pay. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a life for a life.
With burning determination, I grasped the hilt of the sword and pulled with all my strength. The animals scattered, sensing the impending danger. The sky and earth trembled; lightning crashed down around me. A fierce wind whipped through, as if trying to thwart my attempt to claim the sword.
Yet my determination would not falter. I fought and struggled, pulling with every ounce of strength I had. At last, with one final heave, the Blerit Sword was firmly in my grasp. The light emanating from the blade was like a cleansing fire, purging the sins of the soul. The animals that had scattered moments before returned, encircling me, bowing in reverence as I unwittingly transformed.
An aura of golden light enveloped my body. My hair lengthened, turning a shimmering gold. My eyes ignited like flames, and a torrent of power surged through me, flooding my entire being. It felt as if I had been possessed by a force beyond comprehension.
"Rhinggamana Astolfo," Gabriel said, his gaze piercing into mine, "you have proven yourself worthy. With this, the power of the divine is now in your hands."