Sogo_Adeniyi

Soulbrand: The Astral Scar – 

In a world where power is etched into the very soul, warriors known as Soulbrand Fighters shape history. Their Soulbrands—manifestations of their inner strength—grant them abilities beyond imagination. But not all Soulbrands bring glory.

Born in the desolate wastelands, Rei was branded with a scar, a mark of rejection. Unlike others, his Soulbrand refuses to grant him a weapon, leaving him to fight with nothing but his fists. Mocked, outcast, and seen as unworthy, Rei refuses to accept his fate.

When fate leads him to Aiden the Unchained, a rogue warrior with a past shrouded in legend, Rei learns that true strength isn’t in the weapon, but in the will to be free. With enemies lurking in the shadows—powerful rulers, warlords, and the gods themselves—Rei sets out on a journey to challenge the system that binds the world.

But as he fights to break the chains of destiny, an ancient force awakens within him… one that even the gods fear.

In a world ruled by might, can a warrior with nothing forge his own legend?

soulcrest: the astral scar

The sun was just beginning to rise over the wasteland, casting long shadows across the cracked earth. The air was cool, but Rei's body still ached from yesterday's battle. He sat up with a groan, feeling the dull sting of bruises across his ribs and arms. His pride hurt even more.

Aiden stood a few feet away, his back turned to Rei, watching the horizon. His silver hair shimmered faintly in the morning light, untouched by the dust of the wasteland.

"You're awake," Aiden said without looking back. "Good. You lasted longer than I expected."

Rei scowled, clenching his fists. "I still lost."

Aiden finally turned to him. "You fought a top-ranked beast with nothing but your fists. You were always going to lose."

Rei flinched at his bluntness but didn't look away. "Then why didn't you stop me?"

Aiden exhaled and walked toward him, stopping a few feet away. "Because sometimes, failure is the best teacher. You've survived in this wasteland by being strong, but strength alone won't always be enough. You need technique, control, and most of all…" He pointed at Rei's chest. "You need to understand your own soul."

Rei frowned, his hand instinctively moving to his chest. "My soul?"

Aiden nodded. "Every Soulbrand warrior can reflect their soul upon their blade. It's the core of our power. But you…" He pulled a dagger from his belt and tossed it at Rei's feet. "Try it."

Rei hesitated before picking up the dagger. He had never wielded a weapon before. He had always relied on his fists, his instincts. But if this was the path to power, he had no choice.

He took a deep breath and focused. He could feel something deep within him, like a fire waiting to be ignited. He willed it into the blade, just as he had seen others do in the stories Aiden told him.

For a split second, the dagger trembled in his hand, as if something was trying to take shape—then, without warning, the metal cracked.

Rei's eyes widened as the dagger shattered, the pieces falling to the ground.

Rei looked up, his chest tightening. "What does that mean?"

"It means your soul is rejecting the blade." Aiden crouched beside him, picking up a broken piece of the dagger. "For most, the soul naturally bonds with a weapon. But yours… it refuses."

Rei's hands trembled. "So what? I'll never be a Soulbrand warrior?"

Aiden studied him for a moment. "Not necessarily. There are more ways to fight than with a sword."

Rei clenched his fists. "I don't care about other ways. I want to prove I belong here."

Aiden's gaze hardened. "Then stop trying to follow a path that isn't yours." He stood up and gestured for Rei to follow. "Come. We start training now. If your soul rejects the sword, then we'll forge a new way for you to fight."

Rei hesitated for a moment, then stood up. His body ached, his pride was wounded, but something inside him refused to break.

If he couldn't wield a blade, he would find another way.

A NEW PATH BEGIN