Start of Something New

Soul Realm

"Now that Xquic is dead and the dark energies she absorbed have vanished, this place won't hold out much longer. Where will all the spirits here end up, I wonder..." The man's deep voice carried through the silent paths as he walked with calm purpose. His well-built frame exuded quiet strength, his hair tied neatly back, while the massive blade strapped to his back seemed to dominate even the lingering spirits of this realm.

"Susanoo…" A soft, honeyed voice called out, accompanied by a spreading cloud of fragrant, rose-colored mist.

"Lilith…" His tone sharp and unyielding as his hand instinctively reached for the massive blade. Without hesitation, he swung it in a single decisive arc.

The mist churned violently in response, scattering under the force of his blade. As it cleared, a figure stepped forth—graceful, alluring, and radiating a presence that seemed to quiet the air itself.

Her shimmering silver hair fell to her waist like liquid moonlight, framing a face of flawless beauty. Her striking blue eyes held an irresistible allure, while her snow-pale skin seemed to glow faintly, heightening her almost otherworldly charm.

"My, my… isn't that a bit excessive? Seeing a woman and swinging a blade without even saying hello?" Her voice was light, teasing, and edged with mockery.

"Cut the chatter and get to the point. Why are you here?" His voice was sharp and unyielding.

"Why?" she repeated with a soft, playful laugh. "Oh, Susanoo, you're not the only one with an interest in this realm. Like you, I'm here for the traces of the Outer God's Soul Fragment. Surely you didn't think Takamagahara was the only realm keeping tabs on such things? And these spirits... aren't they just fuel for places like Crimson Pandemonium or the Underworld anyway?"

Susanoo's sharp eyes remained fixed on her as she spoke. Her words carried an undeniable truth, yet he offered no reply. Instead, he shifted his stance, lowering the blade but never loosening his guard.

"Is the Soul Fragment with you?" he asked, his voice cutting through her playful tone.

"What do you think?" Lilith tilted her head, her coy smile widening. "And if I said it's already in Crimson Pandemonium? What then?" Her soft laughter filled the air, light yet mocking, as if she enjoyed the frustration flickering in his eyes.

Susanoo's demeanor shifted, frustration flickering briefly across his features.

"Fine… Just this once, I'll help you out. The Outer God's Soul Fragment isn't with me, and it's no longer in this realm either. The will of this realm opened portals connected to other realms before its collapse. Quite a number of spirits have already entered those different realms. I'm still investigating who might have it..."

"As for this place, I've no further business here… Until next time, Susanoo," she said, her voice soft and lilting, like a lullaby meant to haunt. The mist consumed her form, and she vanished into the ether, leaving behind only her faint, melodic laughter.

Susanoo's eyes remained on her, sharp and calculating, but he made no move to stop her. His sharp eyes scanned the crumbling expanse of the Soul Realm one final time. The realm's fragile stability was waning, its collapse inevitable now that Xquic was gone and the dark energies she hoarded had dissipated.

There was no longer any reason for him to stay as well.

Adjusting the massive blade strapped to his back, he turned toward the faint glimmer of a boundary in the distance, a shimmering line where the Soul Realm's edges blurred into the infinite void. His thoughts churned as he considered his next move, calculating with precision born of countless battles.

Where to next?

His mind wandered to the fragmented clues Lilith had dropped. The Outer God's Soul Fragment wasn't here—it had already moved on. But if her words were true, then realms like Crimson Pandemonium and the Underworld were likely just distractions. Somewhere beyond, the Fragment's trail still lingered, faint but not yet beyond reach.

Among the many realms where answers might lie, one stood out: the Martial Realm.

The Martial Realm, a place teeming with ancient warriors and power-hungry clans, was always restless. Its constant conflicts made it a likely hub for rumors, artifacts, and secrets—perhaps even whispers of the Fragment's whereabouts. It was a realm that valued strength above all else, a quality Susanoo wielded without equal.

The faintest smirk tugged at his lips, though it didn't soften the sharpness of his expression.

"The Martial Realm…" he muttered. "A good place to start."

Without another glance, he stepped forward. The boundary between realms shimmered as he approached, bending and rippling like a surface of liquid light. As he passed through, the weight of the Soul Realm's fading energies lifted, replaced by the distant hum of new possibilities awaiting him in the Martial Realm.

The Soul Realm, now devoid of purpose, was left behind, its silence growing heavier with each passing moment. Susanoo did not look back. His focus was already on the path ahead, where the next stage of his search awaited.

…

Aetherion: The Azure Continent…

"What is this place… What is happening…?"

"Ugh… my whole body hurts… What happened to me…?"

As he stepped through the portal, the sight before him and the sudden wave of pain overwhelmed him, causing him to stumble. However, no sound escaped his lips. Even the sharpest words couldn't form…

At present, his appearance was nothing but a shadow of deep gray, with no other form or substance. He felt as if his entire being was being torn apart, and a constant, unbearable pain lingered.

Only his mind remained intact, allowing him to still think clearly.

According to what Ji-Hoon, the leader he met in the Soul Realm, had said, once entering through the portals, one would need to overcome certain trials. If that was true, then this place could very well be one of those testing grounds... though it didn't seem to match the description.

What he saw before him was strange. His form, now formless like a spirit he had heard of in old tales, was simply an essence, without a body. Moreover, he felt suspended in the air, with towering mountains ahead and vast forests of gigantic trees stretching below him. It looked like he had ended up in some kind of jungle.

Before arriving here, the last thing he remembered was… after the entire Soul Realm was shrouded in darkness, he and Woo Jin had run from the hellhounds, escaping with their lives and entering through two separate portals.

A sense of something crucial being lost filled his mind, yet he couldn't focus on it at all. The pain he was constantly feeling overwhelmed him, causing the thought to slip away almost immediately.

End - 6

Author's Note:

Crimson Pandemonium

In the world of my novel, Crimson Pandemonium is a dark and terrifying eternal realm that serves as a version of Hell. It is a place where devils and other malevolent forces rule, battles are endless, and pain and suffering are the only constants. It is a realm where spirits and souls are tortured, and hope is a fleeting concept.

Takamagahara

Takamagahara is an ancient and sacred realm often referenced in mythology. It is a divine realm, ruled by powerful beings like Susanoo. If you want to learn more about this realm, feel free to explore the following link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takamagahara

The Underworld

The Underworld is where Hades, the god of the dead, presides over the souls of the departed. It is a place of both judgment and rest, where the dead reside for eternity, ruled by dark forces and ancient laws.