There is a story older than time.
It says that when a person dies, their soul goes to heaven… or hell.
That belief has existed for as long as humans have lived. The belief shaped religions, created faith and It gave people comfort a promise of something after death. Either to rest Or suffer.
But that story is wrong.
Completely wrong.
And I know this why?… because that place is being destroyed.
-----
If you looked above me right now, you would see the sky itself breaking.
Not metaphorically it was Literally breaking and cracking like glass as thin fractures spread across it, slowly at first, then faster as it splitting into countless lines as pieces began to fall apart into nothingness.
Around me, there was only fire.
Buildings collapsed one after another.
Ancient structures, old beyond understanding, shattered and fell as if time had finally caught up to them. Towers split in half. Walls crumbled into dust as the ground trembled beneath every step.
Everything was burning.
But this was not normal fire. Not the yellow or orange flames people knew. Those were weak and Mundane fire.
But this was different. It was a Blue and Dark flames. Called Hellfire.
It burned without flickering or mercy. It didn't just consume matter, it devoured everything it touched, souls and Even this world itself.
This place… was the Soul World.
A place where souls came after death. A place between endings and eternity, where they waited, either for peace… or for endless purgatory.
And now, it was burning.
-----
I stood in the middle of it all.
As the world around me was turning into ash
In front of me stood my best friend.
Lucien.
The head and patriarch and of the soul world.
And he was looking at me with killing intent.
It wasn't hidden or subtle. It filled the air like pressure which was heavy and suffocating. A deep red aura spread from his body, twisting and pulsing as if alive, carrying death within it.
But there was something else too. A hint of pity I think.
Soul essence radiated off him, dense and violent, bending the space around him. The power alone was enough to crush weaker souls instantly.
My best friend…
…was about to kill me.
He slowly reached for his weapon. A katana as it began to form in his hand, condensing out of pure soul essence. The moment it fully materialized we both new that that this was the end not just of this moment, but of everything between us.
We both wore the same armor. The uniform of Soul Guardians which was a black robes with layers of protection and a markings of authority.
We stood on the same side.
Or at least… we used to.
-----
You might be wondering why.
Why was he looking at me like that? Why had it come to this?
I wish I knew.
I really do.
I glanced around at the destruction, the burning world, the collapsing sky and i looked back at him.
"Lucien… why go this far?" My voice was steady, but the weight behind it wasn't. "For what? A single soul?"
Lucien didn't hesitate. "Ren. Get out of my way." His voice was calm and Final. "Even after everything I told you… you still choose to stand against me."
I took a step forward. "Lucien, we are friends." The word felt strange even as I said it. "I'm trying to understand you. So stop this." I gestured at the destruction around us. "This soul you're trying to save is tainted. You know the rules. Everything you're doing right now isn't helping anything but just making it worse."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then.
"Ren."
His voice cut through sounding hurt and angry.
"You can't understand." The air around him shook. "You have no emotions. No memories of your past life." His grip tightened on his blade. "You don't know what it feels like to live. To remember. To feel happy, sad, angry… to care about anything." His voice dropped. "To see the world in color… instead of gray."
I didn't respond. Because he wasn't wrong.
He let out a slow breath, shaking his head. "Why am I even saying this…" A bitter smile crossed his face. "You can't understand. The Constellations took everything from you." His eyes locked onto mine. "You're empty, Ren. A vessel who just follows orders."
He paused.
"And I don't blame you."
Silence stretched between us. The flames continued to crack louder. The world continued to fall apart.
"Lucien…" My voice came out lower. "Don't make me do this."
We had been togetheras friends for a hundred years. That is A hundred years of fighting side by side and A hundred years of existence.
Lucien replied immediately.
And yet,
"Whatever the Constellations say… is law."
As he said it The words felt automatic. Like something I had said a thousand times before. I hesitated just for a moment before my own katana began to form in my hand.
The blade was Cold and Sharp as it Completed it manifestation.
"If I have to…" My grip tightened. "…then I will."
Lucien stared at me.
Then he laughed out loudly and A smile followed it, but there was no warmth left in it.
"Ren… you finally sound like a true puppet." He tilted his head slightly. "Tell me something. Were we ever really friends? Or were we just two powerful souls… placed together by the Constellations… for this exact moment?"
The flames reflected in his eyes.
"You don't feel anything. You never did. Except the need to complete your mission."
I looked at him. Really looked at him.
There was something I wanted to say. Something I should have said.
But nothing came out.
Because he was right.
That should have been all that mattered the mission, the order, the end.
But still… there was something inside me, Something small that I couldn't explain.
Something that didn't want this.
Lucien met my gaze. And in that moment, we both understood.
It was too late.
-----
Our blades flashed.
Soul essence erupted from both of us at the same time, expanding outward in a violent wave. The force alone sent ripples across the entire Soul World.
And then we both moved. The Soul Patriarch And his best friend.
After one hundred years of friendship clashed.
Steel meeting steel, Again and again. Their movements were too fast for most to follow because two beings dancing through destruction, blades cutting through the air with precision and power. Around them, Hellfire raged twisting and surging, threatening to consume everything.
"Lucien, stop this!" My voice broke through the clash. "I don't want to do this!"
His response came instantly. "It's too late for me!"
Our blades collided again. The impact sent us both sliding back, stabilizing mid-air then we rushed forward again.
The fight escalated become more Faster, Sharper and More violent.
"SOUL BLADE — CRIMSON SUN!"
Lucien's voice roared across the battlefield. His katana burned with intense red energy, the heat alone warping the space around it.
I didn't hesitate.
"SOUL BLADE — GLAZING SHADOW FROST."
Cold energy surged through my blade, freezing the air itself.
They collided.
The moment the two powers met, everything went silent.
Then a black hole formed between us.
The pressure exploded outward. A shockwave tore through everything in its path as buildings collapsed instantly, flames scattered, the sky cracked even further.
But it didn't stop there.
The battle continued. And when it reached its peak, they called upon something deeper.
Their spirit beings.
Lucien raised his hand. A massive presence answered. It was a nine-tailed fox, golden and burning, which was radiating power. Its size towered over the world itself, its tails moving like waves of fire.
I responded.
A shadow rose behind me. A towering samurai in dark armor and with a silent presence. It drew its blade.
And brought it down.
The fox reacted instantly, two of its tails rising to block the strike. The impact sent another shockwave rolling across the world.
The battle continued.
For days.
Neither side giving in or stopping.
Until at the ended.
Lucien escaped And Ren was gone.
-----
"That battle… became one of the darkest records in Soul World history."
More than a hundred years had passed since then.
A Soul Warrior stood before a group of newly arrived souls, guiding them through a vast gallery filled with records and statues. Behind him loomed a massive structure that show the image of the Soul Patriarch.
Lucien.
"So… any questions?"
One of the new souls raised her hand. "Where is the Soul Patriarch now? And his friend… why did they fight?"
The Soul Warrior sighed. "There are many things about that war that remain unknown." He looked up at the statue. "Some believe the Constellations sent Lucien's soul to hell. And his friend…" He paused. "…is believed to have died in that battle. But his soul was never found."
The girl tilted her head. "So… you're not sure?"
"Yes." He gave a small nod. "As for what caused the fight… no one truly knows." He turned away. "That's all for today. Let's move to the foundation of the Soul World."
The group began to follow him.
But the girl remained still for a moment, her gaze resting on the statue of Lucien.
Then she smiled.
"It's time."
And then she turned and followed the others.
Still smiling.