“What are you?” King Crono demanded, glaring at the tall, faceless creature before him.

  “You don’t need to know that,” the being replied—then lunged forward.

  Crono blurred out of sight, moving faster than light. The creature crashed into solid stone, its claws leaving cracks in the marble floor that spread like lightning across the throne room.

  The king reappeared behind it, eyes glowing gold, cape fluttering in a storm of light and dust.

  “Your Nectar is light,” the creature hissed, smiling. “This might actually be interesting.”

  It vanished.

  Crono’s instincts screamed—he pivoted just in time as a claw sliced past his throat, carving a glowing gash through the air. Sparks of energy ignited where it struck, ripping apart the throne itself.

  The king countered with a flash of divine brilliance. His sword became a radiant arc, and the creature was hurled through a pillar, stone exploding outward like shrapnel.

  “I underestimated you,” the monster growled, rising slowly—its form twisting, bones snapping into new shapes. Smoke and black fluid poured from its wounds, yet it laughed.

  Crono’s eyes narrowed. “You bleed.”

  “Not for long.”

  The monster lunged again, faster this time—its claws becoming a blur of black lightning. Crono blocked one strike, two, three—each impact shaking the floor—but the fourth hit drove him back through the wall.

  He reappeared instantly behind the creature, delivering a radiant kick that detonated the air. The creature’s body crashed through several chambers before embedding into the far wall, leaving a crater of molten stone.

  “State your purpose, creature,” Crono demanded, floating amid shards of light.

  In a flash, the creature’s hand clamped onto Crono’s face. The speed—inhuman. Crono didn’t even see it move before his head was slammed into the floor. The impact cracked the entire hall, releasing a wave of shock that shattered every window.

  The creature pinned him down, raining blows faster than thunder—each strike splitting light, each impact sending ripples through the earth.

  Crono vanished again, streaking away as light itself—but not before blood splattered from his wounds, sizzling as it hit the marble.

  He appeared above, panting, gripping his sword tighter. The golden aura around him flickered violently.

  The creature looked up, smiling through the chaos. “Tiring already, King?”

  Crono raised his blade. “I’ll show you what light truly is.”

  He descended in an instant—a blinding explosion of energy following him like a meteor. His sword carved through the air a hundred times before it even reached the ground, each slash leaving trails of golden fire that illuminated the city outside.

  When the smoke cleared, the creature’s arm was gone, its chest cleaved open.

  “Whatever you are,” Crono said, eyes burning, “you won’t make it far.”

  He surged forward again, a blur of brilliance, slicing the creature hundreds of times in less than a heartbeat.

  Each strike left symbols of light burning into the air, forming runes that screamed divine judgment.

  But then—the blade passed straight through. The creature turned intangible.

  Crono’s eyes widened an instant before a claw slammed him into the ground. His ribs snapped. Blood burst from his mouth.

  The creature leaned close, whispering. “Light can’t touch what doesn’t exist.”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  A single finger pierced Crono’s skull—clean, silent.

  “You’re stronger than most humans,” the monster murmured. “But you made me use another ability.”

  It stood, letting the king’s lifeless body fall with a dull thud. The golden light faded from Crono’s eyes.

  The creature gazed down at the corpse, almost admiringly.

  “Even kings fall the same way,” it said softly. Then, with a ripple of shadow, it vanished—leaving the body of King Crono to rot in silence.

  Chaos erupted in the capital.

  The surprise attack struck without warning—the city was ablaze, its sky filled with fire and screams. The outskirts still stood, but the heart of the kingdom was dying.

  Zekra, commander of the royal guard, barked orders to his sub-captains.

  "I’ll return once I’ve gotten my family to safety. Hold the line!"

  He sprinted through the burning streets—until dread froze him mid-stride.

  A man stood ahead. No eyes. No aura. No life.

  "You’re the one who killed Yu Zhong," Zekra said through clenched teeth.

  "That old fool?" The eyeless man—Helv—chuckled darkly. "His heart was quite… useful."

  Zekra’s fist crashed into Helv’s stomach, sending him flying through a wall. Blood dripped from Helv’s mouth as he laughed again.

  Then suddenly—he choked.

  "W-what—can’t… breathe?" He gasped, clutching at his throat. "What kind of Nectar—?"

  Zekra stepped forward, voice like steel.

  "I’ve pulled every ounce of air from around you. Suffocate, monster."

  Helv collapsed, body glowing faintly white. The light faded, and he grinned through the pain.

  "You made me use another source to live…"

  The air pressure surged, slamming him to the ground.

  "You’ll only focus on me," Helv rasped, coughing blood.

  Realizing the trap, Zekra dashed away toward his home.

  When he arrived—he froze.

  Ella, his wife, was caught in a chokehold by a girl with crimson eyes.

  The girl’s hand trembled—then suddenly she began to choke herself, gasping for breath.

  "ELLA! TAKE THE KIDS AND RUN!" Zekra shouted.

  Hearing my father’s voice, I peeked from the window, clutching my sleeping little brother tightly.

  Then—

  A claw tore through my father’s chest.

  Helv stood behind him, blood dripping from his hand. My mother, Ella, screamed—but before she could move, the crimson-eyed girl, Nira, seized her by the head.

  "DLIVA, TAKE YOUR BROTHER AND RUN!" my mother cried—

  and then Nira crushed her skull.

  I didn’t think—I just ran. My brother still asleep in my arms, I bolted through the burning streets, never looking back.

  But then—he was gone.

  I turned, eyes wide. A shadowy figure stood a few steps away, holding my brother in its arms. I couldn’t make out its face—just the outline, tall and inhuman.

  I tried to move, but I couldn’t. My body was frozen. The creature ahead didn’t move either. The world itself felt still.

  Screams echoed. Fire burned. The kingdom crumbled around us.

  And I stood there—motionless—as it slowly began walking toward me.

  I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. I wanted to know if my brother was safe.

  The closer it came, the more desperate I became.

  And then—

  Darkness.

  I awoke to a voice—not human, not mortal.

  "Well done, child. You have survived without breaking."

  The voice—divine, calm, endless—filled my head.

  "All that has happened will make you stronger. It will shape you. It will prepare you."

  A pause.

  "Listen, Wanderer. Your next task is to journey toward the Kingdom of Alvans—on foot. No vehicles. No shortcuts."

  The voice softened, yet still thundered through my soul.

  "Do not grieve, my Wanderer. This is all part of my design."

  "And my design is…"

  The voice deepened until it shook the world itself.

  |Absolute|