In the sprawling estate of Ivan Tepish Dracule, soldiers and guards scoured every corner of the grounds. Their armored boots crunched over gravel as they swept through courtyards, rummaged through shadowed hill caves, and barged into cramped tenant houses. Sunlight glinted off the insignias pinned to their uniforms—a snarling wolf’s head, symbol of the city’s Knight Order. The unit had mobilized after reports of a dark rift walker lurking near the eastern districts, its presence poisoning the air like rot.
From his first-floor study window, Ivan observed the chaos. A muscular, broad-shouldered man with a scar cutting through his stubble, he radiated the tension of a coiled spring. His role as general demanded he protect the kingdom’s eastern flank—a patchwork of fragile towns and this ancient city, Aquanus. Once a bastion of forgotten magic, its ruins now lay buried beneath cobblestone streets and leaning monuments. Towering stone pillars, their surfaces pitted and carved with indecipherable runes, loomed over the market squares. Ivan often wondered if the ancients who built them had faced horrors like the ones now clawing at his city’s gates.
He sank into his chair, leather creaking under his weight, and thumbed through the latest patrol reports. The air smelled of dust and ink, undercut by the sharp herbal tang of the dark green tea his butler, Hans, poured into a chipped porcelain cup. Steam curled upward as Ivan took a slow sip, the bitter brew searing his throat.
“Aquanus,” he muttered, more to himself than to Hans. “A city built on bones. I doubt its founders ever imagined this plague.”
Hans stood rigid by the desk, his posture still that of the knight he’d once been. Age had softened his frame but not his eyes—flinty and alert, even as guilt tightened his features. Weeks prior, he’d failed to stop a rift summoner from ambushing Ivan’s nephew, Ray. The boy had survived the attack, miraculously resisting the dark taint that corrupted most victims, but the near-loss haunted them both.
“Any trace of the summoner?” Ivan asked, voice low. He didn’t look up from the reports.
Hans’ knuckles whitened around the teapot. “None, sir. The rift… it’s still growing. Swallowing the old quarry.” A pause. “We’ll find the creature. It’s only a matter of—”
Ivan’s fist slammed the desk, rattling the cup. “Matter of time?” he snarled. “Every hour that thing breathes, the rift widens. You’ve seen what pours out—rotting corpses, demons, things that don’t die.” His glare pinned Hans. “This isn’t a skirmish. It’s an infection. And if we don’t cut it out…”
Hash’s words cut off, unfinished, as a frigid wind howled outside, threading through the ancient monuments like a mournful wail. It carried the faint, chilling clatter of swords and the hoarse shouts of soldiers echoing in the distance. Beneath their feet, deeper than the city’s stone roots, something unnatural rumbled—a low, guttural pulse that shivered up through the floor, stirring dread in their bones.
“This is bad,” Ivan growled, his voice tight with mounting panic. “People are already losing their minds over those sightings. We barely kept the rift under wraps—slapped a construction excuse on it to stop the rumors. But this? This is a disaster. Where’s that bastard hiding?” His hands clenched into fists, knuckles whitening as he paced the dimly lit room, the air thick with the musty scent of old wood and wax.
Two weeks had dragged by since the incident, and despite scouring the estate with every able body—sweeping the surrounding fields and forests—they’d found nothing. Summoners like this one wielded uncanny powers: cloaking that melted them into shadows, intelligence sharp enough to rival any human. These Dark Rift walkers were the deadliest plague this world had faced. Two kingdoms had already crumbled under their weight, reduced to ash and whispers. Ivan’s gut twisted—what was this thing plotting? It was out there, moving, scheming. He couldn’t wait any longer.
“Hans!” he barked, spinning to face his old friend. “Get the knights, the church, every damn royal in this city on alert. We’re prepping for a siege. Ignoring this is suicide—I won’t let arrogance cost me anyone again.” His voice cracked on the last word, heavy with a grief that never dulled.
His gaze drifted to the painting on the wall—the only one he had of his late wife, her warm smile frozen beside their two young children. The flickering candlelight cast soft shadows across her face, and Ivan’s expression crumpled, sorrow etching deep lines into his weathered features. He pressed a hand to his chest, as if to steady the ache.
“Yes, sir,” Hans replied, his tone clipped but resolute. “I’ll handle it right now—no delays.” He turned to leave, but his broad shoulders sagged slightly, burdened by his own fears. Hans had been with Ivan’s family since before they’d fled to this kingdom—twelve long years watching those three kids grow from squalling newborns to stubborn young adults. His own family weighed on his mind too, but Ivan’s carried a deeper tether.
I’ve got to keep an eye on them, Hans thought, his jaw tightening as he strode out. Lilly’s still wasting away, that damn dark taint eating at her fragile little body. Avan’s arrogance is spiraling—he’s chasing power like it’s his lifeline, too proud to lean on anyone. Ray’s finally pulling himself together, training with my boy, but it’s not enough—not yet. Their safety’s all that matters. Lilly’s cooped up inside, but Avan and Ray? They’re out there, and I can’t lose them to this mess.
The wind outside sharpened, rattling the windows with an icy edge, as if the world itself braced for the storm brewing beneath its skin. Ivan stood alone, staring at the painting, the weight of his vow pressing down like a blade against his throat.
“Hans, be careful.” Ivan’s voice held a note of worry. “I don’t trust the safety of our home anymore for the time being, especially since that rift appeared just near our estate. We called for a Magical Rift expert to seal it, but it’s only a temporary fix. I think we should conduct another personal sweep with our entire estate manpower.”
“Gladly, sir,” Hans replied.
Hans was relieved that Ivan hadn’t changed. Though he rarely showed it, his care for his family ran deep. It had been a difficult journey for him, as well as for everyone. He had placed considerable pressure on his children, but in his own way, he wanted them to become independent.
It will only get tougher from now on, he mused.
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A week had passed since the day Ray had encountered the boy training alone. Ray had been busy during that time, delving into the books left behind by the former Rayhein. He had conducted numerous experiments with the invisible rock, striving to understand better his abilities and the differences in his biology and race. Some answers had emerged, while others remained elusive, but Ray had undoubtedly made progress.
Sweat glistened on Ray’s brow as he ran under the bright sun, engaged in a training exercise with his newfound friend. His immediate goal was to push his body to its absolute limits. The boy he had met had been kind enough to let him join his running sessions.
Ray had been quite surprised to discover that the boy was Hans’s son. He had seen him one day after returning from a run, talking to Hans, and had approached them.
“Hello, Hans? What are you talking about with him? Do you know him?” Ray asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
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Hans chuckled softly. His son, however, wore a completely blank expression, utterly dumbfounded by Ray’s question. Ray had met and played with him when they were younger, yet this idiot still couldn’t remember him.
Have you seriously forgotten about me, or are you just messing with me? Allister thought, a flicker of annoyance sparking within him. I was going to play it dumb to surprise him with a few hints when we met, but this guy still hasn’t picked up in three days. I mean, it''s been years, but still, how could he forget me?
“Huh?” Ray responded, genuinely confused.
Fooling? I’m pretty sure I haven’t met this boy. Maybe Rayhein did, but if he did, I would at least have a memory of him. Perhaps I didn’t inherit that memory, Ray pondered.
“You seriously don’t remember me?” Allister’s voice rose slightly, tinged with disbelief. “We played a lot together. You, Avan, and I were always playing pranks and games when we were little.”
“Still no clue,” Ray replied honestly, his expression utterly blank.
“Allister, you dumbass.” Allister’s voice was now laced with irritation. “My name is Allister! It’s so rude to forget me like that!”
Hans struggled to suppress his laughter, while his son fumed with anger, having wasted so much time thinking Ray would eventually recognize him. Since that day, Allister had been noticeably cranky and easily touchy.
Running for so long rayhein legs were giving up. They were running around the entire city corner to corner every day. Tackling different terrains like rocky, mountainous, forests, and even city streets, etc
“Are we there yet? It’s been 4 hours.”
“Humph”
Without looking back to check on Ray Allister just ran like the wind.
“Oye the hell? At least respond.”
This is infuriating. It’s been three days; just drop it already. Is he deliberately trying to annoy me? He barely responds, just a yes or no here and there. Allister thought I should probably just apologize, a wave of frustration washing over him.
Meanwhile, Ray had noticed a peculiar characteristic of the city. It possessed an unusually oval shape. What was even more intriguing was that the time it took to circle the entire city seemed to vary each day. Ray was certain he had been taking different routes each time, and the distances covered also fluctuated. Keeping up with Allister was proving to be a significant challenge. However, Ray’s past in the super-soldier program had instilled in him valuable skills. He recalled a drill that involved running around the entire base, completing it with the fewest possible steps by utilizing the terrain – trees, buildings – to his advantage. Through rigorous training and the sting of punishment for failure, counting steps had become an ingrained habit, a second nature.
I still remember most of those experiences. The majority of my memories stem from the Clone program. Yet, I can’t recall much from before that, other than the crash. I can’t even remember the names of more than three countries. It’s quite strange how my memories are structured. Somehow, I still carry that ingrained feeling, that second nature, even in this body, Ray mused, his thoughts drifting to his fragmented past.
Over the last three days, Ray had counted an astonishing total of more than 268,000 steps. The first day had been particularly grueling, with 100,000 steps, which translated to roughly 64 miles or 100 kilometers. They had run from dawn till dusk, pushing him to his absolute limit. He was amazed by the stamina of this subspecies. He hadn''t expected to be able to keep up, but sheer willpower had allowed him to persevere, albeit with ragged breaths and aching muscles. He also noted that his current height of six feet at this age was quite remarkable.
The following day had been even more demanding, with 168,000 steps, nearly 107 miles or 174 kilometers. They had spent the entire day running relentlessly. By the time he had returned home, every muscle in his body screamed in protest.
That fucker was clearly enjoying torturing me, wearing that smug look even after we finished our run. I was reaching the absolute limits of this body. Every bone ached, and my feet were riddled with corns and blisters. Still, this body possesses an incredible recovery speed. A single night’s sleep was enough to restore me, Ray thought, a mix of pain and grudging admiration swirling within him.
Today marked their fourth hour of running, and Allister still hadn’t uttered a word.
Allister, maintaining his steady pace, was gradually pulling ahead of Ray. He glanced back with a smug grin, clearly relishing these moments of teasing.
“Keep up, or maybe we’ll reach home in the next five hours! HAHAHA!” Allister’s voice echoed back, laced with playful mockery.
I’m actually quite impressed that Ray has managed to keep up with me despite only doing basic training for the last five years. I’m currently using force to maintain this pace, and it’s still incredibly difficult. I’ve never even completed a full run along the entire city border. He must have learned the best techniques from his father’s training since childhood. He wasn’t even in this city for a while; he was sent to the knight orders as a young child for four years. Now, at fourteen, he’s returned to the estate where his father works, and they have a large home here, Allister mused, a flicker of respect for Ray’s endurance appearing in his thoughts.
In the evening, Allister and Ray stumbled onto the estate grounds, utterly drenched in sweat. Their bodies, heavy with exhaustion, gave way as they collapsed onto their knees, their weary legs carrying them from the garden towards the grand villa. Ray’s breath came in ragged gasps; in the past six days, he had run more than he had ever imagined possible. Only one thought hammered in his mind.
Two hundred and fifty thousand steps. This fucker, two hundred and fifty thousand fucking steps. I don’t even want to do the math. I’m too exhausted. Now I understand how humanity survived; they’re all superhumans. I can’t feel my legs. My legs… The pain is excruciating.
Gasping for air, Ray was beyond even registering the throbbing agony in his limbs.
“This training is absurd!” Ray finally managed to choke out, his voice raw. “I understand the physical training, but how much further are you going to push me? I have a limit, dammit! What the hell are you expecting from me? I’m not an animal you can just drive like this!”
Lying in the manicured grass opposite him, Allister was equally winded, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.
“You never stopped,” Allister retorted, his voice thick with exertion. “You idiot, I was waiting for you to stop! Just what kind of insane willpower do you possess? This is the first time I’ve been this out of breath. I have never run so much in my entire life.”
Ray’s voice softened, laced with a hint of desperation. “I’m sorry you hate me for not remembering you, but please, end this torture. Let me rest for a few days after today.”
Allister laughed, a genuine, amused sound despite his own exhaustion. He had made Ray beg for respite. Still, Ray was something else entirely. It was disheartening to know he was born a null, possessing such incredible physical capabilities yet unable to wield force.
“I can only push you to become better,” Allister said, his tone now serious. “You have incredible stamina and physical abilities. Can I ask you something?”
Ray had a fair idea of what was coming. “Take your shot,” he replied, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky.
“Ray, you were born a null, right? Why do you want to pursue strength? Isn’t it impossible? Your body can’t use magic or force. It’s honestly quite sad. You’re amazing as you are, but there’s a limit to your physical growth. Eventually, people with talents in either will surpass you. The cases of being born a null are so rare that in the last ten years, there hasn’t been more than one. Why bother putting your life on the line like this?”
That’s a very good question, Ray thought, his mind momentarily forgetting the burning in his muscles. Why do I push myself so relentlessly? I’ve always felt like maybe, just maybe, if I work hard enough, my situation will change. This world is hurtling towards utter chaos. I could easily spend my days in blissful ignorance, but doing so would only make the inevitable future a certainty. I recently learned the true meaning of being a null. The general understanding is that someone in this state cannot and will never be able to use the fundamental forces that exist in this world, like magic and this ‘force’ everyone talks about. I had initially hoped I could perhaps utilize force, but it’s essentially an application of magical energy used to strengthen the body. It’s very different from magic, which allows for versatile manipulation of matter to create elements. My knowledge is still basic; perhaps Avan is more informed. My only inherent advantage is being born a high human.
“Well, I just want to be better,” Ray said, pushing himself to a sitting position. “I am certainly a null, born without the capability to use these gifts like magic and force.”
He stood up, his legs protesting with every movement. “Should that honestly stop me from striving to be better? I’ve been guilty of a lot of things, Allister. I’m a coward, a failure, and hated by nearly everyone in this estate. Looked down upon by all of them. I’m sick of it.”
He looked at Allister, a faint smile gracing his lips. “I want to change.”
Turning his gaze towards the grand estate, Ray reflected on the myriad experiences he had already encountered in this world. One thing was clear: the future held danger and uncertainty. Yet, he still yearned to protect his family, to be loved by them. Deep down, despite the memories he carried from Rayhein’s life, a part of him was still Aiden, the fifteen-year-old boy who had lost his life on Earth, desperately seeking love and acceptance. Perhaps he could find it with this family. He had to try his utmost to live in a way that would earn their affection and become the best version of himself. He owed that much to Rayhein.
“I want to show others I can be useful. The kingdom is heading into greater danger with each passing day. I want to be able to protect what is dear to me, even if they don’t like me at the moment. I want to be someone they can rely on. Someday, they might even appreciate me.”
Allister was momentarily speechless. Spending time with Ray had revealed a stark contrast to the quiet, reserved boy he remembered from their childhood. Allister had been devastated back then, burdened by the feeling that he was a hindrance to Ray. But the Ray before him now was different, his unwavering willpower a force to be reckoned with. I will try to teach him everything I know, Allister resolved. There’s no harm in trying, even if it doesn’t ultimately work. He reached out and placed a hand on Ray’s shoulder, a gesture of newfound understanding.
“I understand. Starting tomorrow, we will begin proper physical training, the painful kind. Are you up for it? Even when I was using force, you managed to keep pace. Maybe you can achieve something truly amazing with your physical talents.”
Ray felt a surge of determination. He was confident that this training would provide the optimal foundation for his goals. He possessed a unique advantage, a gift exclusive to him and his little brother: a high human body with abnormally high physical stats, including two hearts. It was no wonder he had managed to endure Allister’s brutal running regimen for the past week.
“Don’t count me out just yet. I’ve only just begun,” Ray replied, his eyes burning with resolve.
With a shared chuckle, the two boys turned and headed back towards the welcoming lights of the villa.
Unbeknownst to them, a small figure had been concealed in the shadows, having just overheard their entire conversation. Avan’s face was contorted with fury, his small fists clenched tightly, and his eyes were bloodshot with a burning rage.
“You, love us? You hypocritical liar!” Avan hissed under his breath, his voice trembling with anger. “Where was this courage when you left us to die? I will crush all your bravado. Just wait. No matter how much you train, you will never be as good as me. I do not need you or anyone, ever again!” he finally yelled, the sound swallowed by the approaching darkness.