In the endless darkness that swallowed him whole, Rawin could barely feel his own body.
"Where… am I? Everything is so dark… I can't even feel myself," he muttered, confusion echoing in his mind.
Then, from within the void, a faint white figure began to approach him.
"I didn't expect we'd meet again here, Rawin," said the mysterious figure, its voice calm and oddly familiar.
Rawin stiffened. "Wait… that voice. I've heard it before. Were you the one who took over my body when I fought the Ancien Glossy Beast?"
The figure chuckled softly. "Hoho, so you remember. No need to be so tense—I'm not here to harm or kill you."
"That doesn't mean you're on my side," Rawin replied warily.
"Hmm… you could say that. Or not," the figure said with a faint smile.
"Then who exactly are you? And what's your purpose for taking control of my body?" Rawin demanded.
The figure tilted its head thoughtfully. "Who am I, you ask? That same question was once asked by another child long ago. But since you've awakened, I suppose I can tell you myself. I am the King of Kings—the one who slew a god. Soveird, the Emperor of the Verdant Empire."
"W–wait… the King of Kings? A god-slayer? The founder of the Verdant Empire? What kind of impossible thing is this?" Rawin gasped, his voice trembling in disbelief.
"Haha, I knew you'd react like that," Soveird said with a faint grin. "This will be a long story, so listen carefully."
"A-alright," Rawin said, regaining his composure.
And so, Soveird began to speak of his past.
"Long ago, there was a small village plagued by terror—a radiant creature known as the Glossy Beast. They said it had crawled up from the depths of the underworld. The people lived in fear, powerless to fight back. Many lost those they loved—husbands, wives, children, elders. They prayed to the gods… but the gods turned away.
"One day, a young boy who had lost his father asked his mother, 'Mom, will the gods protect us from all this?'
'Of course, dear. The gods are always by our side,' she answered.
"But not long after, the Glossy Beast returned to destroy the village once more—and that time, it was his mother who became the victim.
'Run, my child! I'll follow you soon!' she shouted.
"A man grabbed the boy's hand and tried to pull him away.
'Come on! We have to go—your mother will catch up!'
'No! I don't want to go without her!' the boy cried, his tears spilling uncontrollably.
"Before she was taken by the monster, the mother whispered her final words:
'Believe in the gods, my son. They will protect and watch over you.'
"The man carried the boy away as the beast devoured the only family he had left.
'Mooother!' the boy screamed for the last time.
"From that moment, the boy swore to annihilate every Glossy Beast in existence—and to judge every false god who deceived those who prayed for salvation. In time, he grew powerful enough to slay a Glossy Beast equal to a Celestial itself.
"He built a kingdom, then an empire—to protect those who suffered, and to fulfill the vow he made to his mother. That… is who I was. And that, Rawin, answers your second question."
"So that's the reason you took over my body, King Soveird?" Rawin said, his tone now filled with respect.
"'King,' you say? Don't call me that," Soveird replied gently. "What stands before you now isn't my spirit—it's merely a manifestation of my power."
"A manifestation? You mean… you're the lingering will born from your hatred toward the Glossy Beasts?"
"Hmm… you could say that. Or not entirely."
"Then why do you still exist, Soveird?" Rawin asked.
"Because it's true—I was born from his hatred. But before the true Soveird perished, he left behind this manifestation as a safeguard. His will was simple: If anyone shares his fate—someone who loses everything to those beasts—then I shall protect that person."
"So… does that mean you're my protector?" Rawin asked quietly.
"You could call it that," Soveird said. "But my power to protect you is limited."
"Limited? Why?"
"There are three reasons," Soveird began. "First, if I take control of your body for too long, it will shatter—your vessel simply can't withstand my full power. Second, when our powers merge, the ratio is roughly three to one. When your strength runs out, the backlash forces your body into deep slumber for a long time.
"And third… if you use my power too often, it will consume your lifespan. My strength is far beyond what a mortal body can endure."
"I see…" Rawin said quietly. "Then tell me, what are the benefits?"
Soveird chuckled. "Even after hearing all that, you're still interested?"
"Yes. Power always comes with a price. If the cost exists, then it must be worth paying."
"Very well," Soveird said, his tone shifting to something more solemn. "I'll summarize them into three points, so listen carefully.
"First, your overall power increases a hundredfold.
Second, you gain the ability to wield any relic—sacred or ordinary—without restriction.
And third, you can use skills and techniques that you've never learned before."
"Can I ask about those three things?" Rawin asked eagerly.
"Of course. What do you want to know?"
"First, the hundredfold increase—what kind of Glossy Beast would that be equivalent to?"
Soveird smirked. "You remember, don't you? That same power killed an Ancient-class beast with a single shot."
"So it's that strong… That's about as powerful as five Elders of Gondalwa combined, isn't it?"
"Yes—but only for that final strike. Once it's used, you return to your normal state."
"Even so, that's incredible. Now, about the relics—you mean that wooden bow?"
"Exactly. That bow is quite the treasure," Soveird said.
"Treasure? What do you mean?"
"It managed to withstand one percent of my power. Normally, any relic would've shattered before even reaching that."
"Just one percent…?" Rawin laughed softly. "I see. And the third—using abilities I've never learned?"
"Yes. My memories contain countless techniques and forms of combat. When needed, they can become your own."
"That's… actually very helpful," Rawin admitted. "I'm still inexperienced in battle, so that would make a huge difference."
"Indeed. As your strength and knowledge grow, so too will mine. Every step you take forward strengthens the bond between us."
"That sounds good," Rawin said with a faint grin. "Now I'm even more motivated to train harder."
Soveird's form began to fade, fragments of light peeling away into the void.
"Hm… it seems my time here is up," he murmured.
"Wait—Soveird! Why are you disappearing? Will we meet again?" Rawin called out.
Soveird smiled faintly. "Don't make that face. We'll meet again, I promise. Until then, remember your purpose, and keep moving forward. I'll always be with you."
"Then… next time we meet, will you tell me more of your story?" Rawin asked.
"Of course, Rawin," Soveird replied.
As his final words echoed through the darkness, his light faded completely.
Rawin raised a hand in farewell—then everything around him dissolved into white.
When he opened his eyes again, he was lying beneath the roots of the White Greever Tree… awake at last.