Ruiz struggled desperately, but the guards held him firm, unyielding. They set the black block in the square's midst and shoved Ruiz toward it. Seized by terror, he looked at Demps beside him and pleaded:
"Lord Demps, you've got the wrong man! I was just sick, but now I'm fine, I really didn't fall! Let me go!"
Demps remained impassive, calmly watching as they pressed Ruiz to the block. The man's neck fit precisely into the depression, exposing his nape.
"The goddess witness, I can prove my innocence, let me go..."
Ruiz wailed desperately, tears and snot streaming down his face. He turned to the gawking crowd, shouting names of familiar friends and neighbors, hoping they'd speak for him. But he saw only cold, indifferent faces. No one uttered a word.
In desperation, Ruiz glared at Demps again, his eyes filling with hate.
"I was just sick, almost recovered, and you grabbed me, babbling about some trial! And you call yourselves followers of the God of Justice! Is this your justice? My whole family depends on me, I'm the sole breadwinner! If I die, who'll care for my wife and three kids? You want them to starve? Ptoo! Why are you doing this to me?!"
At these words, blood streamed from Ruiz's eyes, mingling with tears. The sight was horrifying. He began furiously cursing Demps, the church, and finally turned his hatred on the crowd—he wished agonizing death on all.
On the vast square, only Ruiz's voice echoed. Reyn, in the throng, watched with mixed feelings. But no one dared speak for Ruiz. It wasn't coldness or indifference to another's plight, but habit to such spectacles. From Ruiz's state, anyone with basic knowledge would know: his curse had awakened; he had fallen.
This curse was called the "Bloody Soul Curse" and lurked in every human soul on this world—an eternal nightmare of all mankind!
Legends said that thousands of years ago—historians estimated around four thousand, but the exact date was unknown; certainly, it happened at the end of the previous age—humans for unknown reasons incurred the wrath of the horrific ancient evil god of the Void. Their entire race was cursed, and the curse persists to this day.
This horrific evil god was called Yuxotrn. He came from the Void, and no one knew how many centuries he had existed. Over civilizations' long history, Yuxotrn was known by many names. Different peoples called him "Demon of Demons," "The Whisperer," "Source of Fear," "Lord of the Void," "Thousand-Voiced Demon," "Indescribable God," and so on. People usually named him the "Dark Lord"!
The Dark Lord, supreme among the four Great Evil Gods of the Void, unleashed an inescapable curse. The Bloody Soul Curse typically slumbered in human souls, unmanifested. But when people weakened or lost emotional control from life's hardships, the curse seized the moment, awakening and making the person hear a sinister whisper. This dreadful voice seemed to come from the Void itself, gradually driving mad, stripping reason.
Thus, the Bloody Soul Curse was also called "Whisper of the Dark Lord." Those who succumbed to the whisper and fell could no longer be considered human—they became "fallen." Their souls were defiled by "Fel" from the Void. Even after death, their souls went to the Void, becoming slaves and minions of the evil god, without hope of redemption ever. When the Bloody Soul Curse awakened, it unleashed humanity's darkest sides, driving to the maddest, most horrific acts. To prevent greater harm, there was no choice but to kill the fallen.
Thousands of years ago, humans possessed innate mighty power and long life, little inferior to elves and dwarves. They lived in communities in remote regions. But after the curse, they began slaughtering each other, and in just a century, their numbers dropped to a tenth! Worst, the Bloody Soul Curse passed through blood to generations. Every infant was born cursed. Children, with weak wills, fell extremely easily. Even those who grew up remained physically very weak.
Thus, the curse passed generation after generation. After several cycles, human lifespan shortened greatly, few reaching seventy. Moreover, humans lost their mighty talents, bodies degraded quickly, sensitivity to supernatural forces dulled. No matter their efforts, they couldn't match other races, and no great heroes emerged. From the previous age's end to the new's start, through a thousand years of Dark Times, mankind teetered on extinction.
In the Dark Times, humans tried every way to combat the Bloody Soul Curse. Finally, someone found that consuming a herb called "Soul-Devouring Grass" resisted the curse and reduced awakening risk. Soul-Devouring Grass itself was the strongest soul poison. Only tiny amounts avoided death, but even that was agonizing, like cruel torture. Though it couldn't lift the Bloody Soul Curse, it halted further human degradation and prevented extinction.
After a thousand years of struggle and suffering, mankind endured. Then, ironically, misfortune turned to boon. Near-millennial soul torments endowed humans a unique talent—ability to merge with other beings' souls, gaining beasts', monsters', insects', even demons' special skills. Any soul-bearing living thing could enhance and develop human abilities.
Mastering soul-merging and combining skills, humans created dozens of supernatural professions. About three thousand years ago, the world's first superhuman appeared—the "Mage," drawing power from souls. Two centuries later, a group of sun knights worshiping sun god Gevon founded on Black-Afidland continent the first human state—"Ramon Kingdom"!
Thus, in Ellunes world began the new age—the Age of Man, lasting 2528 years already.
Despite this, whatever glorious civilization humans built, however many mighty foes they defeated, however vast and rich lands they ruled, the Bloody Soul Curse remained. Like a bone-deep ulcer, it relentlessly pursued them. In any human state, city, settlement, daily someone fell victim to the awakened curse, becoming a mad fallen and spawning countless tragedies.
The Bloody Soul Curse forever remained the nightmare poisoning human minds!
Reyn recalled his nightmare during his unconsciousness and felt a belated fear. Back then, he had been in an extremely weakened state, and if not for the phone's protection, he surely would have gone mad by now. But Ruiz, standing before him, had been less fortunate. He claimed he had simply been ill and had already recovered, but no one would believe him. People weakened by illness were the most vulnerable group for the curse's awakening. Nearly half of the fallen were former patients. Of the remaining half, sixty percent were elderly, since their bodies were frail and their wills weakened, making them easy prey for the curse. That was why there were so few old people among humans: they simply didn't live to seventy, becoming fallen earlier.
"Your wife and children are already dead."
Demps suddenly spoke up. His voice echoed across the entire square, so everyone could hear it. Ruiz's curses cut off. Demps continued:
"You personally killed your wife last night, and strangled your three children. Remember?"
"I didn't... I...," Ruiz mechanically objected, but then, as if recalling something horrific, remorse and torment reflected on his face. Gradually, his expression twisted, his eyes filled with a ghastly black color, and a soul-chilling aura began emanating from him.
"Ha-ha-ha..."
Mad laughter burst from Ruiz's lips. The sound was so unpleasant that the listeners' heads spun.
"Silence! Demon!"
Demps's voice thundered over the square, carrying a strange power. The people felt their minds clear, and they snapped out of it. Ruiz on the block desperately opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound, like a drowning man. Suddenly, light black smoke poured from his body, his limbs twitched unnaturally, swelling. Flesh and bones seemed to intertwine into a single horrifying mass, trying to break free.
Strange symbols appeared on the silver chain binding Ruiz. They held him firmly, like an invisible cage, locking even the black smoke emanating from him, not letting it escape.
The people watched this scene in horror, involuntarily stepping back a few paces. Reyn saw a fallen one going mad for the first time. He wanted to examine it more closely, and mentally commanding, he activated the camera.
The image before his eyes changed; every detail became incredibly sharp. Reyn was stunned. He realized he saw much more than just enhanced vision. In his eyes, the heads of the surrounding people became semi-transparent. He could see through their skulls and flesh, peering inside where a misty glow flickered.
"These... human souls?" Reyn subconsciously guessed. He scanned the crowd and confidently confirmed his hunch. "I can really see souls!"
Looking closer, Reyn discovered that souls varied. The most noticeable difference was in soul color: red, white, yellow, green, blue—all sorts of shades, constantly shifting like in tune with people's emotions. Souls also differed in size. Large souls seemed stronger to Reyn, small ones weaker. This was easy to see in the Squires of the Holy Sword on the square. Each Squire's soul was significantly stronger than those of ordinary townsfolk—at least one and a half times larger and denser. Most townsfolk's souls looked quite weak, and some were even damaged, flickering like a candle flame in the wind, ready to go out at any moment.
Finally, Reyn looked at Demps standing in the center of the square and froze in amazement. Demps's soul was incredibly powerful. Even the Squires of the Holy Sword couldn't compare to him in size or density—the difference was colossal. Ordinary people were like fireflies next to the moon compared to Demps. Demps's soul shone with white light. Reyn sensed an unyielding will and tranquility emanating from it, like the surface of a calm lake. Moreover, Demps's soul had an internal structure like an onion: layer upon layer, five layers total. The deeper, the denser the substance, roiling with spiritual power.
At the very heart of the soul, in its deepest core, Reyn saw three strange abstract patterns. These three patterns were different: two large and one small, each with distinct features. They resembled separate souls fused into one.
"These must be soul elements. Each element represents some ability."
Reyn sensed this intuitively and was overjoyed at the same time. He fully understood what the ability to see souls directly meant, especially for people who drew power from soul fusion. No greater gift could be imagined.
Then Reyn looked at Ruiz on the block. Ruiz's soul was also unusual: entirely black like smoke, almost spilling beyond his head—even the naked eye could see the black smoke coming from him. The black soul constantly swelled, distorted, writhed, extending intertwining tentacles like a living creature. In the center of the soul, two crimson eyes vaguely visible, twitching and spinning rapidly.
Reyn only glanced at Ruiz's soul but immediately felt the madness and evil emanating from it, nearly losing his composure.
"Fallen souls are truly horrific. One look—and already danger."
Meanwhile, under the crowd's intent gazes, Demps stepped forward and drew his sword from its sheath. The silver blade gleamed coldly; both sides were covered in script. Demps's lips moved; he seemed to chant a spell, making the script on the sword shine brighter.
"In the name of Tyrael, I, Demps Bir, sentence you to death. May your soul avoid the Abyss, find redemption, and return to the Kingdom of God."
Demps loudly pronounced the sentence and raised the silver sword overhead. Reyn wanted to look away to avoid the bloody scene. For him, raised in the peaceful society of the past, watching an execution up close was too shocking. But he noticed everyone around staring at the block without blinking—adults and children, women and men. Their gazes showed impatience and even fanaticism, as if enjoying a thrilling show. Their souls' colors gradually turned red, indicating emotional excitement.
Reyn involuntarily realized: for people of this world, watching someone else's execution was everyday entertainment. If he looked away, it would seem too strange.
Reyn had no choice but to watch wide-eyed. The silver blade flashed, and Demps's sword crashed down at incredible speed.
Ruiz's head rolled across the ground, blood spurted, staining the black block fresh crimson. The headless body twitched for a few moments, then stilled, turning into a shapeless mass of flesh. The horrifying aura emanating from it quickly dissipated.
The crowd let out a satisfied sigh, then silently shook their heads and began slowly dispersing.
Reyn stood motionless, as if the beheading had struck him too. He was indeed somewhat frightened. Seeing a living person's head cut off evoked nausea and strange curiosity in him. But what shocked Reyn most was that after Ruiz's head was severed, he "saw" black glow fly out of it—Ruiz's soul, no doubt.
At first, it simply rose upward, but suddenly changed direction and, like a moth to flame, rushed toward him. Before he could blink, the black glow entered him through his eyes and vanished.
Reyn froze in place, nearly dying of fear. Ruiz was fallen; his soul defiled by Fel—nothing good could come of this. In theory, it should have gone to the Abyss, becoming a slave and servant of the Abyss's evil gods. But instead, it entered his head. What would this lead to? What if someone noticed? This Holy Swordsman Demps was still here!
Reyn stood for a long time, gripped by terror, not daring to move, fearing Demps would notice something amiss and chop him down. Fortunately, Demps apparently couldn't see souls. He ordered the guards to burn the body, then sheathed his bloodless silver sword and returned to the church.
Only when most of the crowd had dispersed could Reyn finally exhale. He felt his back soaked in cold sweat. He hurriedly checked himself and immediately noticed something strange. On the illusory phone interface, the battery charge had jumped eight notches to sixteen percent. At the same time, he felt his body filling with some power, giving him boundless energy. His whole body itched and swelled, as if he urgently needed to vent this power.
Reyn was surprised and delighted, roughly guessing what was happening: "Can I absorb others' souls to recharge?"