"You know how dangerous it is to close a Soul Rift, right?"
The middle-aged woman's voice snapped me back to reality. But right now, I couldn't feel anything anymore.
"Yeah... I know," I answered firmly.
"But if..." The woman picked up a worn sword, the blade hitting the ground with a sharp clang. "If you actually turn into a Soul Either..." She looked at me with serious eyes. "I'll cut your throat right here!"
I stayed quiet for a moment. The woman started drawing strange patterns on the floor around me. Soon, the candles placed around us suddenly flared up all at once.
There are several ways to close a Soul Rift... but I chose the most dangerous method. And supposedly the easiest one. Sounds stupid, right?
But this method... this is what I'll use for my revenge.
"Phew..." She sighed softly. "Ready? You're not gonna change your mind?"
"Just do it already." As soon as I finished speaking, the whole world went dark. My consciousness vanished instantly. All I could see was empty darkness. Death. Sorrow. And the last image burned into my mind—the terrifying smile of some demon.
Before consciousness returned with a wave of nausea. I coughed up a huge clot of blood that dripped onto the magic circle. Strange colored flames engulfed my body... and I passed out again.
...
I jerked awake on a bed... in my own house. My breathing was rapid and shallow, heart pounding like it was about to burst out of my chest.
"What happened!" I rushed to the mirror, immediately checking my neck.
"It's gone..." I kept touching that spot over and over.
"It's really gone... but why don't I feel anything?" Without delay, I ran out of the house, heading straight to Kylo's place.
But while I was running, the corner of my eye caught sight of a fat figure... that creditor! He was sitting in an old bar in the middle of Stone City. I stopped dead, staring at him intensely.
My eyes burned with rage. Sweat started beading up. When he turned to meet my gaze with a mocking smile, the fury exploded inside me. I clenched my fists, ready to charge in and punch his face.
Right then, as that thought popped into my head, I felt some kind of energy surge through my body from my toes to my head. Before I knew it, my body shot forward like an arrow. It felt like I reached him in the blink of an eye...
Whoosh! Bang!!
The next second, my face slammed into the wooden floor of the bar. A giant man sitting next to the creditor was pressing my head down with one hand.
"Heh heh heh! What the hell's wrong with this kid?"
"Probably mad about his family. Haha!"
Mocking laughter filled the bar. They didn't seem to feel guilty at all.
"Throw him in the trash!" the creditor ordered his lackey.
The giant nodded and yanked me up by my hair.
"Don't come around here again, brat."
Then he flung my body out of the bar, slamming me right into a garbage bin.
CRASH!
The sound of metal clanging rang out. I felt like every bone in my body was screaming in protest. I slowly pushed my battered body up from the stinking pile of trash. The foul smell almost made me throw up. Pain shot through every cell, but the rage burning in my chest was even hotter.
"Damn... there are people this strong in Stone City?" I cursed to myself, realizing just how big the power gap was. Just the force from that giant's one hand sent me flying like this. My path to "dealing with them" still looked hazy and far away.
Before I could even get my thoughts together, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Rift! Hey! Are you okay? Who did this to you!"
Kylo stood there stunned, looking between my condition and into the bar with disbelief. He quickly came over to support me, his eyes immediately flashing with anger when he spotted the fat creditor—the guy I'd probably complained about so much he could recognize him perfectly.
Suddenly, I could feel heat radiating from Kylo's body. His palms started glowing with faint orange light. The atmosphere around us grew strangely heavy.
Right... my only friend had successfully closed his Soul Rift, like I'd told you before. In this world, people who manage to do it get different powers depending on the individual. As for me? Right now I was still lost, not even knowing what kind of power I got or what element belonged to me.
"Wait, Kylo..." I pushed myself up to full height, even though my body was still swaying. I lowered my head slightly to hide the flames of revenge burning in my eyes. I didn't want him getting mixed up in this. This was my business. My loss. I had to settle it with my own two hands. Depending on others would just confirm how pathetic I was.
"I'll handle this myself. You don't need to get involved."
"But Rift..." Kylo started to protest, his face full of worry.
I cut him off with a voice I tried to keep as steady as possible. "They... they killed my whole family, Kylo."
Those words hit like lightning. Shock and rage flashed clearly in Kylo's eyes. He clenched his fists until they shook. The heat radiating from him grew even more intense.
"You... what did you just say, Rift!"
"That's why... please, Kylo. Let me handle this myself. I'm begging you." I looked up to meet his eyes with determination, even though I knew it was a selfish request.
Kylo stared at me intently. Anger, confusion, and concern mixed in his gaze. "This isn't some game anymore, Rift! They... they did this to you and killed your family too. How can you expect me to just stand by and watch!"
"That's exactly why! That's why I'm begging you to let me handle this alone!" I shot back, my voice getting louder beyond my control.
Suddenly, Kylo's eyes widened slightly as he looked past my shoulder toward my neck, while I was still looking down with emotions boiling over.
"Your neck..." he mumbled quietly.
I paused for a moment before remembering.
"Soul Rift... I closed it," I answered briefly but firmly.
"Ah..." Kylo groaned in his throat. His tense expression slowly relaxed a little. The rage burning in his eyes began to calm down, turning into understanding mixed with amazement.
"So that's it... no wonder you seem more confident now." Kylo nodded slowly, like he was processing everything in his head. "But even so..." He sighed softly. "If you really need help with anything... you can always tell me. Got it?"
I nodded, genuinely grateful. "...Yeah, thanks a lot, Kylo. I'll see you at the Hunter Guild." I answered while glancing into the bar again, my gaze locked onto the fat creditor's figure. I clenched my fists until my knuckles went white. The determination for revenge had already taken deep root in my soul.
My life's path from here on... it would probably be nothing but darkness ahead. But I was ready to walk down that road... no matter what it cost.