Hinata limped beside Alis through a narrow canyon of jagged black stone, the mark on his hand still
flickering with dull blue light. The Nethers heat was subdued here, replaced by a chill that clung to
the bones. Shadows pooled unnaturally, and the air tasted metallic.
"Where are we going?" he asked, still sore from the previous day's "training."
Alis didnt look back. "A place that wont kill you immediately. Just eventually."
"Thats... reassuring."
"You want a bed and breakfast, go die in a nicer world."
He sighed. "Yknow, I used to dream about getting isekaid. Magic powers. Sword fights. Cute
companions."
Alis raised an eyebrow. "Careful. You just described a dating sim, not the Nether."
"Right. My bad."
They arrived at what looked like the skeleton of a cathedraltowering arches of bone and obsidian, a
cracked stained-glass window depicting a war between gods, demons, and something worse."This is a soulforge," Alis said. "Old magic. Ancient. Dangerous. But... useful."
Hinata eyed it warily. "Useful how?"
She stepped inside. "If the mark on your hand is real, the forge can test it. Awaken something
deeper. Or kill you."
"Why do all your plans involve me dying?"
"Because here, deaths the best teacher."
She gestured toward the center of the ruin where a massive obsidian altar hummed softly.
"Place your hand there."
Hinata hesitated, then stepped forward. The second his palm touched the stone, the world
exploded.
Visions hit him like a freight train made of screaming stars.
Blades clashing. Cities burning. A colossal figure cloaked in shadowsValKyrosraising a hand as
gods shattered above him. His voice echoed in Hinatas skull:
"The gods rewrite fate. But what if fate refused?"The mark on Hinatas hand seared. He screamed, falling to his knees as the forge fed on his fear,
his memories, his regrets.
Something shifted.
The pain stopped.
When he opened his eyes, the altar was gone. The cathedral gone. Even the Nether.
He stood in a blank, gray void.
"You again," he muttered.
ValKyros stood before him, calm, towering.
"This mark... it's not a blessing," Hinata said. "It's a curse."
"All power is," ValKyros replied. "But you can make it yours."
"And whats the cost?"
ValKyros smiled. Youre asking the right questions.Hinata awoke on the floor of the ruin, gasping. Alis stood over him.
"You screamed like a soul being skinned alive. So... good progress."
He sat up, groaning. "I saw him again. ValKyros. He showed me... something."
Alis nodded. "That mark isnt just a proto-soul mark. Its evolving."
Hinata looked at his hand. The symbol had changedsharper edges, pulsing brighter.
"Is that good?"
Alis tilted her head. "Depends. Do you want to stay human?"
He swallowed. "...Define stay."
She smiled grimly. "Then your path just split. Power always demands a piece of you."
They walked on, the ruined forge behind them.
Hinata didnt speak.
Because somewhere deep inside, something had awakened.And it had teeth.