When Kyle opened his eyes the next morning, the air of Greycliff felt heavy. This was not an ordinary morning that began with the cheerful chirping of birds. Today, the entire village looked different. From the windows, faces peeked out—filled with a mixture of hope and fear.
At the very center of the village plaza stood the ancient black stone, thousands of years old, named the Soul-Stone by the ancestors of Aethelgard. Today, the stone was not silent. A faint, spine-chilling hum vibrated from within it, as if a sleeping monster was trying to awaken.
For every child of Greycliff, this ritual was the greatest turning point of their life. It was not merely a tradition—it was the final judgment of their future. In the world of Aethelgard, the soul was everything. A child who awakened with a powerful soul would see their destiny shine. Royal envoys would take them to grand academies in the city, where they would be trained in magic and warfare. But those who turned out "weak" or "null," like Kyle, were bound for a lifetime of labor and humiliation in the narrow streets of the village.
Kyle stood at the very back of the crowd. He tried to straighten his torn, dusty shirt, but his hands trembled. His body still ached from the bloody battle in the Whispering Woods. A bandage was wrapped around his arm, and the wound beneath it throbbed painfully. But more terrifying than the physical pain was the mental noise echoing inside his head.
"What is it, little one? Is your heart desperate to leap out of your chest?" Draken's voice whispered like a cold, sharp blade. Today, his tone felt darker and more dangerous than before.
Kyle inhaled slowly and clenched his fists. "Be quiet," he muttered inwardly. His eyes remained fixed on the massive stone. He remembered how last year the crowd had shoved him away, calling him "Soulless."
Draken let out a cruel laugh. "Remember, inside that stone resides the oldest sacred energy of Aethelgard. If it senses even the slightest trace of my presence, these so-called 'holy' hypocrites will not spare you. They will sacrifice you before that very stone. Are you prepared to witness your own execution?"
Kyle's throat went dry. The hum of the stone now roared in his ears. As the first ray of sunlight touched the Soul-Stone's dark surface, a faint blue glow began to radiate from it.
The festival was about to begin—and Kyle could not tell whether he had come to test his fate or to throw himself into the jaws of death.
The silence of the plaza was shattered by the rhythmic beating of drums. Upon the tall stone platform decorated with ancient carvings stood the Village Chief. Age was visible on his face, yet an aura of authority surrounded him. In his right hand, he held an ancient golden staff, topped with a small transparent gem that shimmered faintly. He raised the staff, and his voice echoed across the entire plaza.
"Today is the day of our ancestors' blessing! Let the Soul Resonance Ceremony begin! Those who have turned sixteen this year, or those who have raised their Level through hard work, step forward one by one. Remember—this stone does not lie. It will reveal the depth of your soul and your true worth before everyone."
With the Chief's declaration, tension replaced celebration. One by one, the youths stepped forward, sweat on their faces, hearts pounding. Whenever someone placed their palm upon the Soul-Stone, a mysterious energy burst forth, illuminating the plaza.
A thin boy stepped up first. When he touched the stone, a faint white light appeared.
"Common Soul!" the Chief announced. "Suitable for farming and labor."
The boy stepped back in disappointment.
Next came a girl. At her touch, the stone glowed green. Excitement rippled through the crowd.
"Warrior Soul!"
Then, cutting through the crowd, stepped the person Kyle hated most—Orion.
Arrogance still painted Orion's face, though white bandages wrapped around his right wrist—evidence of yesterday's brutal clash. Perhaps the pain still lingered beneath those bandages, but he refused to show it. He climbed the platform like a champion.
"Look! The real warrior is here!" his friends shouted from behind.
Standing before the Soul-Stone, Orion glanced deliberately at Kyle in the back. Hatred flickered in his eyes. Then he pressed his healthy palm firmly against the stone.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Boom!
A brilliant, intense green light erupted from within the stone. It was so powerful that those near the platform had to shield their eyes. This was no ordinary Warrior Soul—it was the sign of a High-Tier Warrior Soul.
The entire village erupted in applause and cheers. The Chief looked proudly at Orion and proclaimed, "Magnificent! Orion possesses the soul of a great commander!"
Orion puffed out his chest. As he descended the platform, he intentionally looked toward Kyle. A cruel smirk curved his lips. His eyes spoke what his mouth did not—"See my glory? When your turn comes, even this stone will feel ashamed, trash. Are you ready to relive your humiliation?"
Kyle clenched his fists tighter. He felt Draken slowly awakening within him.
"This mosquito dances proudly over its tiny light…" Draken whispered coldly. "It has no idea that the true darkness has yet to arrive."
"Kyle!" the Village Chief's voice silenced the plaza.
The crowd fell still. At the announcement of his name, surprise and then disgust spread across faces. Whispers traveled like poison. "What? That 'Soulless' trash was called too? Why test him? He'll blacken this sacred stone with his bad luck!"
Ignoring the taunts, Kyle walked toward the platform with heavy steps. As he approached the stone, unease tightened in his chest. The system screen blurred before his eyes, and his Corruption Meter throbbed like a warning bell. In the distance, Baelin watched calmly, the same mysterious glint in his eyes—as if he knew fate was about to play a new game.
Kyle stood before the stone and took a deep, cold breath. He placed his trembling palm against the ancient black surface.
For a few moments, the entire plaza sank into deathly silence.
No light.
No hum.
Orion, clutching his injured wrist, was about to burst into laughter when—
A bloodcurdling scream echoed from the forest.
The ceremony's order shattered instantly. Tearing through the bushes, a horde of fifty ferocious Level 8 Goblins stormed into the village. Rusted swords clanged in their hands, and bloodlust burned in their eyes. Villagers scattered in panic, running for their lives.
Cliffhanger :–
What will Kyle do now? Can a Level 1 Kyle face fifty ferocious Goblins? Or, in trying to protect his humanity, will he transform into a monster that makes the entire village tremble?
The silence is about to shatter—and rivers of blood are about to flow!
Author Note :–
Friends, Kyle's true trial has begun! Will he be able to save that innocent little girl? Is there a greater conspiracy behind this Goblin attack? What do you think—will Kyle's Corruption Meter save him… or drag him into darkness?
Share your thoughts in the comments! And if you're enjoying the story, don't forget
to give your Power Stones. Your support is what motivates me to write faster and better!