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Everyone in the Red Fang Clan had just witnessed the most noble sacrifice of their lives.
The talentless child they called the "Empty One"—the girl even her friends' parents had warned their children to stop speaking to.
The bright young daughter of the Skadi Family, Brunhild.
Not even eleven years old, she charged straight into the heart of the inferno she knew would likely kill her. She seized the last trapped child, pulled them to safety, and hurled them clear of danger.
To the horror of her family and everyone watching, two massive spheres of ghostly flame swallowed her in a colossal explosion.
BOOOMMM!!!
"BRUNHILD! NOOOOOO!!!"
Her mother's scream tore through the air, raw with horror and despair. Frigga ran toward the flames, only for several clan members to grab her arms. In a frenzy of grief, she punched them away.
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!!!"
The flames rose into a towering ghostly pillar before slowly scattering, revealing scorched earth and burned belongings. At the center lay a small, blackened figure.
"A-Ahh…! Aaahhhhh!"
Frigga screamed in anguish, bloody tears streaming down her face as she raced toward her daughter. The rest of the family followed, stunned into silence.
There she lay.
Her skin charred black like coal, her eyes closed.
She was no longer breathing; her lungs had almost certainly been burned to ash.
"AAAAHHHHH! MY DAUGHTER! MY DAUGHTEERRRRRR!"
Frigga wailed as she cradled the scorching body. The heat blistered her fingers, yet she refused to let go. Her tears fell onto the blackened skin and evaporated instantly.
"A-Ah… she was… alive just a minute ago…"
Magnus stared in disbelief, his hands trembling. Only moments earlier, he had been teaching her archery, laughing with her, marveling at how brilliant little Brunhild was.
"No… No… B-Brun… No…"
Astrid collapsed to her knees, clutching her face and tearing at her hair as tears flooded her eyes.
Meanwhile, their father stood apart.
Ragnar stared at the two Bone Wyverns with pure, murderous hatred. His aura surged violently around him while silent tears carved paths down his stoic face.
He wanted to cry and fall into despair like the others, but he could not allow himself that luxury. As the father of this family, he had to avenge his beloved daughter—his little princess.
"RAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
A roar of grief and fury erupted from his chest, shaking the heavens. Without another word, Ragnar seized a bow and unleashed arrows infused with burning wind.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Bone Wyverns sneered, circling overhead and dodging with mocking ease as Ragnar fired faster and faster.
The rest of the tribe, having witnessed the young girl's sacrifice, could no longer remain idle. Brunhild's grandfather stepped forward, tears streaming down his weathered face.
"KILL THOSE THINGS! PROTECT THE CHILDREN! FOR… FOR BRUNHILD!!!"
"OOOOOOHHHHHHH!"
Every warrior capable of wielding a bow or spear—even the few magicians—joined the assault. A storm of arrows and javelins filled the sky.
Frigga clutched her scepter, desperately channeling healing magic into her daughter even as the girl lay motionless. Fenrir stayed glued to Brunhild's side, whimpering and licking her charred face, trying desperately to wake her.
The Bone Wyverns retaliated with barrages of ghostly fireballs, laughing viciously as they rained destruction across the battlefield.
At the same time, Magnus turned to Scaly, his voice cracking with desperation.
"Scaly…! Damn it…! Please help us…!"
"Grrr…!"
Scaly's reptilian eyes glowed in response. Their bond surged, spiritual energy flooding into the beast.
FLASH!
Magnus's eyes widened as Scaly began glowing intensely, overflowing with power.
Then he remembered—he had heard of this phenomenon before. Under extreme emotional strain, powers could awaken or evolve.
Magnus's Beast Tamer ability had just grown stronger. His burning desire to avenge his sister had surpassed even his love for beasts.
It was a twisted evolution, yet powerful all the same.
"Please, distract them! Go! Take all my mana, all my spirit energy…! Even my life force if you must! Just help us, Scaly!!!"
"ROOOAAAARRR!"
FLASH!
Scaly roared as golden light blazed across his body. The entire village stared in awe as the wyvern shot skyward like a blazing comet.
His size tripled in an instant—now half the size of the Bone Wyverns. Brilliant golden scales shimmered across his body, and his eyes burned a fierce red.
This was the power of Magnus's Awakened Beast Tamer Skill: [Spirit Beast Bond Evolution].
By sacrificing all their power—including life force—a beast master could temporarily evolve their companion far beyond a single rank. Scaly had surged from a Tier 1 Young Wyvern to a Tier 3 Golden Wyvern.
Bathed in holy light, Scaly crashed into the Bone Wyverns. Explosions of golden radiance and ghostly fire lit up the sky.
"ROOAARRR!"
The golden wyvern grappled fiercely with the undead beasts, tanking their flames while drawing their attention. Meanwhile, the relentless rain of arrows finally began tearing chunks from their bony bodies.
Ragnar fired like a man possessed, each arrow detonating into massive blasts that shattered bone. Yet the Bone Wyverns revealed their horrifying ability—regeneration. Necrotic energy surged through their frames, knitting bones back together almost as quickly as they were destroyed.
Magnus suddenly felt his own senses sharpen. Golden scales spread across his arms and neck, his eyes turned reptilian, and a golden horn sprouted from his forehead. Through their bond, Scaly's power flowed into him as well.
"Draconian Arrow!"
A golden arrow streaked skyward. Scaly twisted aside at the last moment as the projectile—wreathed in the aura of a rising golden serpent—pierced one Bone Wyvern's ribcage.
BOOOM!
The giant undead let out an agonized shriek and plummeted from the sky.
The second Bone Wyvern crashed soon after. The barbarians roared and charged, swarming the grounded monster.
Astrid and Ragnar reached it first. Even though it was earthbound, the elephant-sized beast was terrifying.
"SHYAAAAAH!"
It hissed and opened its maw to unleash a torrent of ghostly fire, but father and daughter were beyond caution.
"RAAAHHHH!"
United by grief and rage, their crimson auras fused into a moving fortress. They slammed into the beast with devastating force.
CRAAASH!
Half its skull shattered. Ragnar's massive sword severed its wings while Astrid's precise strikes tore through its claws. Together, they crushed the monster's core before it could retaliate.
"It's dead! Focus on the other!"
"The other's still in the sky! Keep firing!"
While the clan fought, Frigga's tears continued falling onto her daughter as she poured every ounce of her power into the scepter, refusing to give up.
"Brunhild…! Brunhild… my baby… please don't leave me…!"
Though her body had fallen still, Brunhild's soul clung stubbornly to life.
♢♢♢♢
This is what I get for trying to be a hero.
For trying to save a damn brat's life.
From an irresponsible mother who forgot her own child.
I shouldn't have done it, right? I should have just run.
And yet…
Why did I act without thinking? That isn't like me.
All my life, I had confined myself to a room, terrified of the world outside. Every action was calculated to minimize risk and interaction.
Maybe that was why I became so obsessed with video games. There were no real consequences. I could finally experience life without fear.
But in this second life, everything changed.
I made friends. I became part of a family that loved me for who I was.
Even though they called me the "Empty One," I still had people who loved me unconditionally—something I never had in my first life.
My father never encouraged me the way Ragnar did. My mother never told me she loved me, never showed anger or taught me lessons like Frigga. I had no siblings like Astrid or Magnus. Even my pets never lasted.
And I threw it all away… to save a child.
Well.
I guess… yeah.
I would do it again.
It was a child of this tribe. This clan.
With my powers, I truly believed I could save them.
But I couldn't.
Still… I saved that child. That's something. Maybe he'll grow up to do something important.
Ghost Flames can burn the soul itself.
As I die and my life flashes before my eyes, I wonder where I am.
"Is this limbo?"
My voice echoed endlessly through eternal darkness—different from the bright white light of my first death.
"Well… it was short. But it was a nice second run."
I smiled bitterly as my ethereal body slowly burned with ghostly fire. I felt so weak I could only watch myself fade.
"Ah…"
Then I saw her.
FLASH!
A bright red light appeared on the horizon, cutting through the darkness toward an eternal light I hadn't noticed before.
A beautiful young woman stood before me. She smiled warmly and took my hand. Long red hair waved wildly around her, and her piercing green eyes held mine. Elegant elven ears framed her face, and divine draconic wings burned behind her.
A shining crown of holy light rested above her head, with dozens of small stars orbiting her. Her entire spiritual form glowed like a living cosmos.
Who…?
"My child. Forgive me for what He did to you. You were not even granted a Divine Protection…"
I stared in stunned silence, overwhelmed by her beauty.
"Who… are you?"
She smiled gently.
"You could say I am your ancestor."
Ancestor…?
Was this goddess-like being my ancestor? The ancestor of the Red Fang Tribe?
She opened her palm, and a bright red fairy appeared.
"Huh? Ah!"
It was Freyja. The little fairy flew toward me, crying.
"Brunhild! Brun! I was so scared!"
"Bringing her here for you is all I can do," the woman said. "What comes next is a battle you and your System must face."
She began to fade into flames.
"I cannot intervene too much, or the balance of your world would shatter. But by simply hearing my words, you have already received a blessing. Use it well, my child."
"Wait! I don't even know your name!"
She looked back while her body dissolved into holy flames. Her bright green eyes gazed into my soul with the warmth of a mother and the ferocity of a dragon.
"Call me Grandma Sylph."
Sylph? Such a simple name for a being of her power.
But before I could ask anything more—
"Ahh? Nnngh?! AAAAAHHH!"
Immense pain tore through my soul. The ghostly flames consuming me suddenly recoiled as a small spark of light ignited within.
It was the white orb I had stolen from the Reincarnation God. It had activated and was now protecting me.
"YOUUUU!"
A monstrous voice thundered across the abyss.
A phantasmal entity emerged from the flames devouring my soul—sharp red eyes blazing with wrath. It looked like a giant skeletal figure draped in shadows, wielding a scythe forged from wailing souls.
"What the fuck is this thing?!"
"Who the hell are you? And why are you inside my soul?! Dude, that's disgusting!"
"UUGH, SPARE ME YOUR JOKES! I WAS THIS CLOSE TO SEIZING YOUR SOUL AND YOUR POWERS…!"
"What?!"
"BUT WHAT IS THAT THING? THAT SPHERE?!"
"Ah, this?" I smirked as the Divine Soul Orb glowed brighter, pushing back the darkness. "I stole it from the old man who sent me here."
"So… you're like me then."
"Huh?"
His giant red eyes narrowed in contempt, then twisted into a smirk.
"You too reached Rank 1 in Barbarian Conquest and were reincarnated in this world, weren't you?!"
"…!"
"I see. Judging by your expression, I'm right."
"I..."
"Unlike you, I chose a stronger start. Why did you choose to become a weakling like that? A human? Seriously? You should've chosen a Lich like me. Maybe then we could've been buddies."
"I didn't have a choice. I was kicked into this world on the whims of that bastard!"
"Hmph… hah… hahahahaha! Really? Too bad for you. Whoever you are—DontTouchMe, ChadBarbarian—it doesn't matter. Now that I have you trapped in my death spell, I'll devour your soul!"
"What the hell?! We're both humans from Earth! Is this necessary?! Stop acting like an edgelord!"
"Are you serious, retard? New world, new rules. Keep that stupid morality from your old life and you'll get chewed up and spat out. Just like now."
Without another word, the Lich advanced—a swirling mass of wailing souls. His giant scythe swung down, aiming to sever my soul.
"Fuck!"
As I cried out and tried to defend myself, my soul blazed with bright golden light and crimson flames. Spiritual Power surged from deep within. I saw Freyja hugging me, fusing with me.
"Brunhild! We have to completely fuse…! This is the only way!"
"What? Okay—do whatever we need to do!"
As she melted into my body, the giant scythe rushed toward me.
BOOOM!
Ghostly flames engulfed my entire form. Agony tore through me like I was burning alive.
"HAHAHAHAHA! WEAK ASS NOOB! GG EASY, FUCKTARD! GET OWNED, RETARD!"
The Lich's laughter rang out as his spectral claws drew closer—only to reveal my soul body standing completely unscathed amid the smoke.
"Huh?!"
A coat made of demonic wolf soul and a white helmet infused with the white stag's spiritual energy now covered me. By fusing with Freyja, my equipment had merged with my very soul, its magical power manifesting directly within me.
But that wasn't what protected me.
It was Him.
"W-What the hell is that thing?!"
The Lich screamed in disbelief as a giant of crimson flames manifested behind me—featureless and deeply unsettling because of it. This titan was my War Spirit of Strength. Through Freyja, I had summoned it here, using the Divine Soul Orb as its core.
Now, let's do the impossible.
"Hey, shithead!"
I leaped skyward with Wild Cat Leap. Through Axe Talent, I manifested a giant crimson axe using the power of the War Spirit of Strength, which overlapped with my soul and made me as massive as the titan itself.
"W-What…! You're not a Lich, how are you even—"
"Red Fang Axe Style."
"First Form."
"Searing Cleave – Burning Claw!!!"
"GAAAH?!"
In one devastating strike, the Lich's entire ghostly avatar was cleaved into two perfect halves. Red flames burned away his own ghostly fire, negating it completely.
"AAAAAAGGHH! IT HURTS, FUCKER!"
"It does? Good."
My other hand summoned a second axe. I unleashed the same technique again. The Lich swung his scythe in response, but I charged faster, cleaving him once more. His entire being began to dissipate.
"This doesn't make any sense! W-What the fuck?! You're a barbarian from the RED FANG!"
"Yeah. Proud of it."
I leaped forward, kicking his skull and shattering it into pieces.
"DIEEEE!"
In a final desperate attempt, dozens of ghosts tried to pierce my soul—only to be incinerated by my fiery red flames and the bright light of the Divine Soul Orb.
"Aaahh?! It doesn't work…?!"
"Bye."
I unleashed Searing Cleave dozens of times, slicing through his ghostly form until he exploded into flames and scattered to nothing.
Suddenly, the heavy pressure in my chest lifted.
"Was I cursed, Freyja?"
"It was a curse, yes!" she replied. "That Lich channeled his magic through it… W-We have to wake up, Brunhild! They're still fighting outside!"
"Yeah. Let's go."
I nodded and poured energy into my body, forcing it awake.
♢♢♢♢
"ROOOAARRR!"
"Scaly! No!"
"Damn it! Everyone, gang up on it! Don't let it advance any further!!!"
"Brunhild! Please wake up!"
"Mom, you have to get out of here!"
"Please, oh gods, help us!"
"Praying won't save us. We fight this monster or we die trying!"
Chaos reigned across the Green Plains as the Red Fang Clan clashed against a colossal Bone Wyvern. Scaly, Magnus's tamed beast, had grounded the second wyvern—only for it to shred his wings with vicious bites and hurl him aside.
In a rage, the beast transformed into a gigantic monster brimming with necrotic power. Wailing souls echoed from within its bones.
Faced with this nightmare, the Red Fang Tribe could only fight to the bitter end. Every capable warrior charged forward, leaping into danger to avenge the fallen.
Magnus kept his tamed beast alive by desperately feeding it with potions, vomiting blood from overusing his magic. His father, Ragnar, fought beside his grandfather—the chieftain Thorfin—against the now flightless but far larger wyvern. Astrid stayed close, lending her strength to the other young warriors. Spells rained down and powerful weapon techniques shattered their bones, only for ghostly energy to regenerate them instantly.
"HAHAHA, PERHAPS I'LL KILL YOU ALL USING THIS LOWLY MINION, YOU DAMNED CANNON FODDER."
An unnatural, ghostly voice echoed from the Bone Wyvern. Several barbarians who heard it collapsed, vomiting black miasma as curses wracked their bodies.
"UNDEAD POSSESSION SURE HAS ITS PERKS IRL COMPARED TO IN-GAME. THIS SHIT'S BROKEN AF! NO CAP BRO."
"What sort of nonsense is this entity spewing?!" Ragnar roared in fury. "Is my daughter's death nothing but a joke to you?!"
"Bastard! Stop mocking us!" the chieftain bellowed, attacking alongside his son.
"TSK. YOU'RE ALL WEAK ASS FRAUDS. GET OUT OF MY SIGHT, BUMS."
With a furious roar, the giant Bone Wyvern unleashed a shockwave of curses, sending both Ragnar and Thorfin flying across the ground. Dark energy seeped into their skin, blackening their bodies as they groaned in pain.
Yet they rose again—bleeding, exhausted, but unbroken.
"We cannot give up."
"For the fallen…! For my daughter…"
"STUBBORN DUMBASSES. GO AHEAD, JOIN HER!"
Amid the chaos, as Frigga prayed desperately to her ancestors for her daughter, her eyes slowly opened.
"Uh…"
"Ah… Ahhhh! B-Brun…! Brunhild…!"
Her mother gasped in awe and disbelief, hands trembling as fresh tears streamed down her face.
"Mom…?"
Brunhild's bright blue eyes opened wide. She took in the horrifying scene: dozens of clan members fighting for their lives against the giant bone monster. Her mother crying for her. Her friends gathered nearby.
"Brunhild…!" Sigrid cried, staring in shock. "I'm sorry, Brunhild! I didn't want to stop being your friend…! Uuuh…! Uwaahh!"
Brunhild slowly rose. Both her mother and friend watched in stunned silence as she stood, overflowing with a golden-red aura.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
Her lungs—thanks to her mother's relentless healing—had been restored. Golden runes spread across her charred skin. The burnt layers peeled away, revealing smooth, clear brown skin beneath.
"Brunhild… this is a miracle… a miracle from our ancestor! Lady Sylph…! The Goddess of Creation has blessed us!"
Her mother and Sigrid wept with joy, praying and celebrating what they believed was her resurrection.
"Sylph, Goddess of Creation, huh? Yeah, I met her."
"…!!!"
"She was a kind person."
Brunhild stepped forward. Each footstep spread healing golden-red flames that soothed the wounded and burned away the ghostly torment afflicting their souls. The cursed began to recover rapidly as her holy flames consumed the darkness.
Ragnar and the chieftain, still locked in brutal combat and growing weaker with every exchange, suddenly heard her footsteps. Warriors on the verge of death froze in place as she passed, their eyes widening in disbelief.
They were witnessing the dead return to the living.
Not as an undead but radiating an immense aura of holy flames and divinity.
Ragnar and Thorfin turned. They could barely stand.
"B-Brunhild…?"
"W-Wha…?!"
She stepped forward. Her long red hair blazed like living flames, her blue eyes glowing with golden light.
"I'm back."
The Bone Wyvern's crimson eyes flared with fury.
"HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU EVEN ALIVE?!"
With a thunderous roar, it charged straight at her.
Brunhild gripped her axe tightly, infusing it with all her Mana Aura and Spiritual Aura, loading it with Healing Flames.
"I should've realized from the start—this was your weakness. My flames."
With a calm, confident smile, she swung her axe upward.
Red Fang Axe Style.
First Form.
Searing Cleave – Burning Claw.
CLAAASH!
The Giant Bone Wyvern was cleaved cleanly in two. The ghostly soul inside writhed in agony as holy fire consumed it.
"UUUAAAAHHHH!"
Screaming in torment, the monstrous wyvern collapsed into a pile of bones. Every trapped soul and necrotic power within was rapidly exorcised.
"I'LL KILL YOU…! ONE DAY…! I'LL GET MY SHIT BACK FROM YOU!"
The Lich raged, lunging to curse her. She let him touch her—only for Healing Fire to greet him, burning away what remained of his presence.
"FUUUUUCK! IT HURTS! YOU SON OF A—"
Before he could finish, he scattered into the wind.
Brunhild sighed in relief. She was utterly exhausted. That final strike had taken everything she had.
"Brunhild!!!"
Her family rushed forward in awe and disbelief, enveloping her in a crushing group hug.
"Ueeegh! Please… have mercy. My body hurts so much right now…!"
"I was so worried! I-I thought you died! Brunhild! My little princess! Buaaaahhh!" Her father cried open, manly tears as he held the daughter he believed he had lost.
"My baby…! My beautiful baby, you're alive!" Her mother wept against her shoulder, still celebrating the miracle.
"Cough… Brunhild… ouch…" Magnus groaned, his body aching from overexertion. Scaly was safe, though flightless for now.
"You're alive! Aaahhhhh!" Astrid kept screaming with joy.
Brunhild smiled softly, hugging her family back. She felt truly home again.
She had almost given up, convinced she would die. Now, relief washed over her as she silently thanked Sylph, the Goddess of Creation, for giving her the chance to fight back.
She hadn't received anything more than that opportunity—but it had been enough.
For now, she pushed darker thoughts aside.
"A lot of people must be hurt. Did anyone die?" Brunhild asked.
"A… a few warriors did…" her father sighed.
"We have to try reviving them," she said. "Come on, Mom. Let's hurry. Maybe it's still possible. Let's pray to Goddess Sylph for her protection."
"Yes… yes, dear…" Her mother smiled through her tears and nodded.
Brunhild and her family worked tirelessly even after the monster fell. When no more Bone Wyverns appeared, the tribe relocated camp a few kilometers away, sheltering in a nearby forest and caves. The wounded received healing magic, medicine, and potions. Two warriors who had recently died miraculously returned to life after Brunhild performed CPR combined with healing magic.
By the end of the night, the Red Fang Clan mourned three brave warriors who had given their lives—while celebrating the return of the hero they had thought lost: Brunhild.
It was a night of sorrow and joy, yet the clan had never felt more united. Families protected one another's backs, a value slowly fading over generations now reignited in fire and blood.
Later that night, Brunhild gathered with her friends while most adults ate together to honor the fallen and celebrate survival. The twins, Kara and Ulf, arrived with Sigrid. They brought sweet bread and berries, hoping she would forgive them for avoiding her these past days.
"We're sorry…" Kara cried.
"W-We wanted to see you, but our parents…" Ulf sighed. "Tsk! Why should we care what they think?"
"Sorry, Brun… you know I love you, right?" Sigrid asked with tearful puppy eyes.
"I know. It's fine," Brunhild said, smiling warmly. "I love you all too. Come here. Group hug."
Her friends were stunned by how quickly she forgave them—especially knowing Brunhild's strong personality. But after everything she had endured, she simply wanted to cherish these bonds more than ever. The friendships she had never truly known in her first life.
"I'm grateful to have you as my friends…" she said softly.
Her friends broke into tears.
"Uuuh, Brunnn!" Sigrid sobbed, hugging her tightly.
"Waahhhh!" Kara cried like a baby.
"W-Why are you saying such embarrassing things, idiot?" Ulf muttered, clearly moved.
"Hahah…" Brunhild chuckled. "Let's hunt together tomorrow. How about it?"
"Really?!"
"Sure!"
"Okay!"
That night, Brunhild's bond with her friends became unbreakable.
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