Binding Strings of Fate

Away from our house, out on the grassy plains, the gentle wind brushes past us, making our hair dance in its rhythm.

A young man, holding a wooden practice sword, looks at me and asks before we continue our sparring session:

"Are you sure about this, Lumian? I'm an Awakened, you know."

I respond with a confident grin. "What's the matter? Are you scared?"

"You never listen, do you?" he mutters, shaking his head. "Alright, let's do this."

Before we could start, a firm voice interrupts. It belongs to Donrel, a man in his forties, standing nearby as a witness. "Remember, Owen, no elemental abilities this time."

Owen gives a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Both of us take our stances.

'I know there's no way I could win if he used his elemental powers. But this is just a practice swordfight—no reason to worry about dodging fire or wind.

This is my third day—my final day to determine my fate. When the clock strikes exactly 12:00, a portal leading to my trial will open. No matter what happens, I will survive.

'Over the past days, I've used my limited time to improve my physical condition as much as possible. Physical activities were the only option available to me, and now, here I am—preparing to spar against an Awakened with nothing more than an unawakened body.'

'With minimal progress in strengthening my body, I've turned to practicing swordplay. But I can't underestimate Morrian. After all, Don... I mean, our father was a Conquerer.'

Conquerers are individuals who take on the Trial Gates. You might wondering, but no, trials on blessed individual and trials gates on Conquerers are different. While similar in nature, there is a distinct difference.

A Conquerer's Trial Gates mirrors a Blessed's trial, but instead of awakening a Blessed Soul Core, it rewards Soul Essence upon successfully conquering the gate. This essence can be used to further enhance one's power. Occasionally, if luck is on your side, you might even receive an artifact.

[Author: Trial gates will be explained even deeper later on]

The power rankings of Conquerers are divided into 13 tiers, from weakest to strongest:

Lowest Tier

Tier 6

Tier 6+

Tier 5

Tier 5+

Tier 4

Tier 4+

Tier 3

Tier 3+

Tier 2

Tier 2+

Tier 1

Tier 1+

Tier 0 (the highest tier).

And Donrel is a Tier 5+ Conquerer and a master swordsman. With Morrian being trained by him, I must not underestimate his skills.

"Are you two ready?" Donrel asked, his sharp eyes watching us closely.

Morrian and I responded in unison, "Yes!"

'I have to give it my all. I must survive the trial!'

"The two of you may now... Start!"

Without hesitation, I kicked off the grassy ground, lunging toward Morrian. He stood motionless, maintaining his stance, calm and composed.

I swung my wooden sword through the air, aiming for his neck. He shifted effortlessly, raising his weapon to block mine with ease. My hands trembled as I desperately pushed against his strength.

This stark difference in power—it was undeniable. I was far too weak.

Realizing I couldn't overpower him, I kicked off the ground again, retreating several meters to create some distance.

But Morrian didn't let me breathe. He closed the gap in mere seconds, his speed almost unnatural.

As he neared, time seemed to slow. Seconds stretched into what felt like hours as his wooden blade thrust forward, aiming precisely.

'At my left ribs!' I screamed internally, repositioning my sword to block the incoming attack.

But then, he shifted.

'A feint!'

In one swift motion, Morrian twisted his entire body in a 360-degree turn, using the momentum to deliver a much stronger strike.

His blade now sliced through the air toward my right side. My sword, still misaligned from his feint, was utterly out of place. I braced myself, knowing I couldn't stop the attack.

The wooden blade struck my right cheek with a force so strong it sent me flying.

I crashed to the ground, landing heavily on my left arm. A sharp, unbearable pain surged through me as i winced, my vision spinning from the impact.

"Lumian!" Owen screamed, his voice thick with worry.

"Fuck," I whispered under my breath. "I'm fine, don't worry," I replied, though my voice sounded strained.

Owen got down on both feet.

"Sorry, Lumian," Owen said, guilt evident in his tone. "I was too harsh on you."

"It's okay. That's just how swordfights go," I managed with a hoarse voice. "Only one wins the fight."

'Damn it,' I thought, gritting my teeth. 'At this rate, my chances of surviving the trial look even slimmer.'

"Lumian, let's get you healed by your mother. Though I don't think she's going to be happy about this... we're in big trouble."

***

By evening, we returned to the house, and the three of us found ourselves kneeling on the wooden floor. Our heads were bowed, faces dripping with sweat, and hearts pounding in terror as the fearsome creature before us glared down.

My cheek throbbed, still unhealed despite Eleanor's earlier attempts. Owen and Donrel, however, sported giant goose eggs on their heads from a punishment that came swiftly and unmercifully.

"I-I'm sorry, Ellie," Donrel stammered, his voice trembling as he faced the wrath of the terrifying being before him. "We were just practicing swordfighting..."

"And you got Lumian hurt!?" Eleanor's voice thundered, demonic and unrecognizable as it boomed through the room.

Donrel swallowed hard before continuing, his voice hoarse and shaking. "I'm sorry, Ellie. It's just... the kids wanted it. They want to become the greatest Pillars, right?"

Eleanor let out a deep sigh, and her terrifying presence dissipated. Her voice softened, returning to its usual angelic tone. "Then it can't be helped, huh?"

She raised a hand, her palm open as a green, luminous light began to glow. The warmth was immediate—soothing and comforting. Slowly, the pain in my cheek started to fade away as she healed us, fusing water and wind magic.

"All done," she chirped, her voice now cheerful and calm.

'Mom really is terrifying when she's mad, huh?' I thought, shivering at the memory of her earlier outburst.

"Come on, you three," Eleanor said with a smile. "It's time to eat."

The aroma of dinner wafted through the air, causing all of us to perk up. As we stood and approached the round table, the sight of the delicious food made our mouths water. After a long and exhausting practice session, it was impossible not to dive in with enthusiasm.

We sat down and began eating, savoring each bite.

Yet, as the hours slipped away and the trial drew closer, the weight of it all settled on me. My chest tightened as fear crept in, unshakable and raw.

It wasn't just fear of the trial—it was something deeper. It wasn't me. It was Lumian. He was afraid.

Afraid of leaving behind the only family who truly loved him, the people who had given him a home filled with warmth and laughter. Lumian didn't care about his real family; all he cared about was protecting this one.

'Don't worry, Lumian,' I thought, as if speaking directly to him. 'We will survive this. I promise.'

'That's right,' a voice echoed within me. 'The two of us will live—so you can hear your family's laughter again... and so I can keep my promise to Emilya.'

***

Inside my room, the quietness was deafening. Outside, the moon hung directly overhead, casting a silvery light through my window. Yet, it was only a matter of seconds before my trial began.

Sitting at the edge of my pristine bed, I stared blankly at the bookshelf. The silence pressed down on me like a weight.

Then, breaking the stillness, a voice echoed in my head:

[Your time has come, Mr. Lumian. Conquer the trial and awaken your ability in the process.]

The space before me twisted violently, forming a vortex of shifting light and energy. Within moments, it stabilized into a round portal of swirling blue and white hues, crackling with harmless white lightning that dispelled the oppressive silence of the room.

'I'll definitely survive. No, I must survive.'

Rising from the bed, I extended a trembling hand toward the portal, its energy radiating an otherworldly pull. As my fingertip grazed its surface, the portal flared into a blinding light, erasing the world around me.

***

I awoke lying on the ground, my body pressed against itchy blades of grass. Disoriented, I scrambled to my feet and looked around in confusion.

The sunlight above filtered through an impossibly dense canopy of trees, casting scattered beams of light onto the forest floor. The endless stretch of towering trunks and thick foliage surrounded me, isolating me in this unfamiliar, suffocating wilderness.

Panic bubbled in my chest as I scanned my surroundings, fully aware that nothing in this world could be trusted.

Suddenly, a sharp snap pierced the stillness—the unmistakable sound of a branch breaking. My head whipped around, and to my horror, a humanoid figure rushed toward me, closing the distance with alarming speed.

Its hand, balled into a fist, shot toward my face in a blur. Instinct took over—I dodged to the right. The creature's fist collided with a nearby tree, leaving a small crater in the trunk.

I scrambled backward, putting some distance between us as I quickly assessed the threat. My chest tightened when I realized there wasn't just one.

There were three.

They were pure black, like walking voids shaped into grotesque human forms. Towering at about seven feet tall, their unnaturally long limbs dangled loosely, as if they might detach at any moment. Black goo oozed endlessly from their bodies, dripping onto the grassy ground and leaving behind a trail of absolute darkness that swallowed light entirely.

Two of them were hulking, muscular brutes, but their movements were erratic, almost comical, like drunk madmen staggering forward. It was clear they lacked intelligence—mere beasts driven by bloodlust.

The third one, however, was different. He stood silently behind the others, not as tall or muscular, but his posture was deliberate, calculated. He didn't rush forward recklessly. Instead, he watched, his movements eerily human-like, as though he was analyzing me.

Then, the two larger monsters charged, their eyes glowing a vivid red that burned with insatiable bloodlust.

I barely managed to dodge their wild attacks, each swing and jab grazing past me by inches. My body twisted and turned, my heart pounding in my ears. Every move felt like a gamble, a desperate dance of survival.

But I was running out of stamina. My muscles screamed in protest, my breaths growing heavier with each passing second. As I stumbled to reposition myself, one of the monsters launched a devastating blow, its massive fist arcing toward my body with terrifying speed.

I crossed my arms in front of me to block, forming a defensive X. Time seemed to crawl, every second stretching into an eternity.

The realization hit me like a gut punch. My arm won't hold up. My left arm, taking the brunt of the attack, would undoubtedly shatter. But I had no choice. Better to lose an arm than my life.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind, calm yet commanding.

[You have Awakened your Ability.]

'What?'

There was no time to process the words. Bracing myself for the impact, I gritted my teeth and prepared for the worst.

In that instant, something materialized around my arms—a shadowy substance that seemed to pour from within me. Dark, swirling matter coiled around my limbs like living armor, reinforcing them with an otherworldly strength.

But even with this newfound defense, I wasn't prepared for the sheer force of the monster's punch.

The blow connected, and it felt as though a freight train had slammed into me. The air exploded behind me in a deafening shockwave, sending me hurtling backward.

I tumbled across the ground, finally skidding to a stop ten meters away.

Groaning, I forced myself to stand, my body shaking from the impact. My left arm trembled violently, the shadowy reinforcement flickering like a fading light. Despite the protection, the pain was unbearable.

These monsters were far stronger than I could have imagined. My first instinct had been to fight, but now I was beginning to wonder if survival was even possible.

Without thinking, my first instinct was to run. I couldn't stay and fight—not yet. I needed to create a plan, a strategy, before the monsters caught onto me.

As I sprinted through the dense forest, my mind raced. It seemed I was finally able to control my ability, or at least somewhat control it. I didn't fully understand how it worked yet, but the shadows wrapped around my arms in a way that felt familiar. It reminded me of my previous life, like something I had once mastered.

Back when the monster's fist was about to strike, I had braced for impact, preparing to endure the attack. That moment of desperation allowed me to instinctively form my ability to reinforce my arm, just enough to survive the hit. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough.

If I could use my ability the same way as in my past life, I might be able to create something useful—something I could control.

With my right hand pulling away from my left, I focused on my open palm, my fingers trembling as I ran. I concentrated, willing my ability to form into something tangible.

A faint mist of shadow swirled around my palm. Yes! This is it.

But creating something was harder than it seemed. The shadow that had augmented my arms earlier had been pure instinct, born from the need to survive. Now, with a clear intent to create, the process was slower, more strained.

Come on, come on! I can do this! I thought, pushing myself harder.

Time seemed to slow, my heart racing as I fought to form the object. Then, with one final push, it materialized.

A small dagger.

It was unlike anything I'd ever seen—a perfect weapon forged from pure darkness. The dagger absorbed the light around it, as if it were a black hole in the shape of a blade. Even the sun's rays couldn't reflect off its surface.

I quickly glanced over my shoulder. The monsters were still far behind, but I couldn't afford to waste any more time. I had to act fast.

Grinning, I tightened my grip on the dagger.

"Now it's my turn," I muttered under my breath.

***

The two human-like enemies suddenly stopped, their movements pausing as they scanned their surroundings. Lumian had vanished from their sight, his footsteps completely silenced. Curiosity flickered in their strange, monstrous eyes as they searched for any sign of where the malnourished human had gone.

Then, one of the monsters realized where Lumian was. Its eyes widened, and in an instant, it turned to look at the sky.

There, descending like a demon from the heavens, Lumian appeared—gripping his black dagger with the shadowy flame dancing around the blade, his stance perfect as he held the weapon in reverse...

[Lumian's POV]

'The intellect monster is gone. That's a good thing. Now I have a slightly higher chance of winning.'

Without hesitation, I dropped from the trees, a blur of motion as I descended upon the first monster. My dagger aimed directly for its left eye. As the blade struck, the monster shrieked in agony, the sound a high-pitched screech that sent chills down my spine, like a fork scraping against a plate.

The second monster noticed the commotion and quickly began rushing toward me, its wild movements full of bloodlust.

I didn't waste a second. I shifted my focus from the first monster, who was still writhing in pain, to the one approaching me.

The hand balled to fist came flying towards me, i duck down dodging the fist clearing myself from danger.

Then i countered, rising up, my blade came flying aiming towards the monsters neck behind him. Black blood poured from the wound, the color eerily matching its dark skin.

The other monster finally stopped whining, its one eye flashing red with bloodlust. It threw a punch, which I easily dodged, but its fist slammed into the ground with such force that the earth cracked beneath it.

But it was too late. I was already standing right beside it.

I raised my hand and drove the dagger straight into its neck. Black blood squirted out in torrents, splashing across my face and staining my pristine white linen shirt.

Two of them were dead, each taken down the same way.

I wiped the black blood off my face, preparing to rest before tracking him down.

Just as I began to think that the danger had passed, a terrifying realization struck me.

My heart sank as I turned around and saw him.

The final monster. It had outsmarted me, and now it was closing in fast.

Its fist was already almost upon me, too close for me to dodge in time.

The last intellectual monster was secretly following the two, hiding behind a tree and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I quickly raised my hand to block the attack, but to my surprise, his hand shifted. Instead of aiming for my face, he struck my liver.

Despite its small appearance, the monster's intelligence made it stronger than the other two.

I fell to my knees, gasping for air, my eyes filled with horror. Sweat poured down my face, and my expression was lost in despair—all from that single attack.

This is where I die.

Staring at the ground, I haven't given up. I slowly push against the earth to stand, but all my strength is gone from that one brutal assault.

Before I can rise, the monster's foot slams into my head, driving it back into the ground with a loud thud that echoes through the forest. Birds take flight, fleeing from the danger.

But it doesn't end there. The monster continues to strike again and again, each blow resonating with a deafening thud.

It's too much for me to handle.

I'm losing consciousness.

[Narrrator]

The monster lifts Lumian's body by the neck. The ground beneath him has a small crater, the shape of a human head. The monster is choking out the last bit of life from Lumian.

Even as he suffocates, it's surprising that Lumian remains conscious, though he can do nothing in his current state.

"I'm... not..." Lumian croaks, his voice barely a whisper.

To the monster's surprise, Lumian manages to raise his hand and grip its arm. He's doing everything he can to survive, and the monster is astounded.

A human's will to live is truly remarkable.

[Lumian's POV]

"I'm... not... DONE YET!" I scream, my voice jolting the monster in surprise.

Suddenly, from the shadows behind me, three long, black, shadowy hands emerge. They rush toward the monster, pushing it away and slamming it into a giant tree, pinning it there.

I'm on my knees, coughing violently and gasping for air. Despite my body screaming for rest, I push beyond my limits.

With the monster now immobilized, this is my chance.

I stood up.

I raise my hand above my head, concentrating. Shadowy smoke swirls around my hand from all directions, materializing into a black staff with sharp and pointy edge.

It was a javelin.

Taking a step forward, I gather every last ounce of strength I have and throw the umbral javelin with all my might.

The javelin pierces through the wind, making a whistling sound, the sound didn't last long because of the fast speed.

Then, it pierces the monster's neck, the monster tried to take it out, it struggled as black blood gushing out of his neck non stop. Until, the monster lost all his strength, and ultimately died.

The hands and the spear vanish into nothingness.

While still in throwing motion, my body collapses to the ground, landing on my left arm. I'm slowly losing consciousness, too exhausted to keep my eyes open, unable to move.

But the one thing I know for sure is that I survived.

I won.

Staring weakly at the dead intellectual monster in the distance, I curl my lips into a faint grin and uttered, barely audible:

"Fuck you."

End of Chapter.