As she looked at the small body she had promised to protect — now empty, impaled — Liu felt her world collapse.
An absolute cold took over her body.
The most intense she had ever felt in her entire life.
When she moved her arms, she heard the faint clinking of chains.
And then…
A war began inside her.
The crushing cold consuming her clashed against a violent, rising heat—
The heat of hatred.
She hated those who had killed the boy.She hated that meaningless war.She hated herself for not being able to protect him.She hated the gods… for abandoning them.
But above all…
She hated her own weakness.
Her helplessness.Her uselessness.
For a fraction of a second — a microsecond that felt like eternity — cold and heat collided within her.
And then…
The heat won.
Hatred devoured the emptiness. Swallowed the loneliness.
Liu's mind went dark.
Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword.
And she moved.
Before, her eyes analyzed everything. Thought. Calculated.
Now…
Only one thought remained.
Kill.
She needed to vent that hatred.She needed to destroy.
The first enemy was cut in half.
The second didn't even have time to react — Liu dodged his attack and cut him down without hesitation.
She kept advancing.
Cutting.Tearing apart.
Everything in front of her was reduced to pieces.
Allies… enemies…
It no longer mattered.
Nothing mattered.
Only killing.
Only extinguishing that unbearable heat burning inside her chest.
Blood spread wherever she passed.
Bodies fell.
Screams echoed.
And Liu… kept going.
Before she realized it, more than fifty people had fallen to her blade.
She didn't know who they were.
She didn't care.
But her body…
Was starting to give out.
Fatigue finally caught up to her.
Her movements lost precision. Her strikes began to fail.
Even so…
What she had shown there was terrifying.
The swordsmanship of a genius.
Brutal.Relentless.Bloodthirsty.
Then—
Impact.
A violent kick struck her ribs.
Her body was thrown away.
As she tried to stand, supporting herself with one hand on the ground…
Her arm failed.
Her legs trembled.
A shadow loomed over her.
When she looked up—
A kick came crashing down toward her.
Without thinking, Liu rolled across the ground, barely dodging.
But the moment she stopped—
A sharp pain exploded.
She looked down.
A spear had pierced her leg.
There was no time to react.
A sword pierced her shoulder.
Another…
Went through her chest.
Her body went still.
Blood slowly spread, crawling across the ground like crimson roots.
The cold returned.
This time…
Announcing the end.
"Ah… I wanted to save that boy…"
Disappointment.
Failure.
Her lungs burned with every attempt to breathe.
"I wanted to be honest with him…"
Her eyes followed the trail of her own blood running along the blade.
"I'm sorry, mom… I lied…"
A silent thought.
"I don't have any friends…"
A painful truth.
"I hate them… for excluding me…"
Her leg began to go numb.
"I wish I had read more…"
Darkness slowly crept into her vision.
"I wish I had cooked more…"
Her thoughts grew more distant.
"…actually… I just wanted friends…"
Her eyes drifted up to the sky.
It seemed… to laugh at her misery.
"I don't want to die…"
Despair.
Raw.
Real.
"Someone… please… help me…"
Fear took hold of her.
Despite everything…Despite being forced to grow up…
She was still just a teenager.
And she was afraid.
Very afraid.
The darkness and cold began to fully envelop her.
Then—
The sky changed.
Suddenly, it turned black.
The stars shone with impossible intensity.
Liu's eyes widened.
Even at the brink of death… she couldn't look away.
"What… is this?"
The question echoed—
Not only in her mind.
But in the minds of everyone present.
And then—
The Spell's voice resounded.
[The gods are dead.]
[And from their grave… the Goddess of Black Skies answered your call.]
[You, bearer of a relic marked by her… have drawn her attention.]
[Congratulations.]
[You have been deemed… interesting.]
In the next instant—
The stars exploded into light.
And a sea appeared.
Not of water…
But of darkness.
It fell upon the battlefield.
Silent.
Absolute.
And swept everything away.
Both armies were annihilated.
Without struggle.Without resistance.Without existence.
When it was over…
Only one survivor remained.
Liu.
[Awaken, child of the Black Skies.]
[Your nightmare has come to an end.]
[Attribute acquired: "Child of the Black Skies".]
—
When she opened her eyes again…
Everything was white.
The Nightmare Spell.
Her chest was intact.Her shoulder… healed.Her leg… perfect.
As if nothing had happened.
Then, the voice returned:
[Aspirant, your judgment has been concluded.]
[You have slain 51 dormant beasts.]
[You have received the blessing of the Goddess of Black Skies.]
[You have accomplished the impossible.]
[Final evaluation: Glorious.]
[Your strength is… impressive.]
A brief pause.
[Awakened Liu…]
[You have received your True Name:]
["Executioner of the Black Skies".]
[Aspect: Princess of the Moon.]
[Rank: Sacred.]
[Memory destroyed: Necklace of the Black Skies.]
[Attribute acquired: "Blessing of the Black Skies".]
—
Liu opened her status.
And what she saw…
Made her heart sink.
[Flaw: Mara]
The gaze of others is dangerous.When your eyes meet someone else's… Mara will consume you.
Crimson roots will take over your body.Your strength will increase…
But this is not a blessing.
As the roots grow…Madness will consume your mind.
A chill ran through her body.
That wasn't power.
It was a curse.
…
Liu closed her eyes.
She hated the gods.
And now…
She had been chosen by one.
What a cruel irony.
Then—
The final attribute.
[Mara]
Your madness has no limits.Anything that dares take what belongs to you… will be devoured.
Without remorse.
Your crimson roots will spread over everything you touch.
Silence.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Liu felt something inside her pulse.
Something unstable.
Hungry.
That power…
Was not just dangerous.
It was inevitable.
And deep down—
She knew.
This would change her life forever.