Nova_Verse

In the world of NOVA, death is not the end. Beneath the mortal realm lies the Soul Land, where the spirits of the departed linger, sustained by the memories of the living. But once the last person who remembers you is gone, so are you.

For most, this is an inevitable fate. For a rare few, it is a chance to rise.

Those who leave behind a lasting impact—be it through legend, power, or sheer will—gain the ability to defy the boundaries of life and death. These beings, the Soulbound, can forge bonds with the living, exchanging power for emotion. The greater their influence, the stronger they become, even gaining the ability to walk between worlds.

But not all spirits wait to be remembered. Some claw their way back through sheer hatred. Some carve their names into history through blood and fire.

This is the story of one such soul.

A man betrayed. A warrior forgotten. A legend reborn.

And now, Rael Noctis will forge his own destiny—one soul at a time.

The masochists

Rael's fingers hovered just above the girl's skin, the air between them crackling with unseen energy. For a moment, she was motionless, caught between fear and intrigue.

Then, her lips curled into a sneer. "You think I'm just going to let you steal from me?"

Rael arched a brow. "Steal? No. I trade."

The shadows binding her wrist loosened slightly, and she took a cautious step back. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, darted across his form, studying him. She was no ordinary street survivor—there was a fire in her gaze, a defiance that spoke of battles fought and lost.

Rael extended a hand. "Your name?"

"Elara," he repeated, testing the weight of it. "I can give you something in return for what I take. Power. Protection. Strength beyond what you've ever known."

Elara exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "People like you don't just hand out power for free. What's the catch?"

Rael smirked. "You become my first Bonder."

A flicker of interest danced in her eyes. "And what does that mean?"

"It means your strength becomes mine, and mine yours. It means you'll never be weak again."

She scoffed, but there was hesitation in her stance. Rael could feel it—the desire, the hunger for something more than the scraps life had given her.

After a long silence, she reached out and clasped his hand.

The moment their skin touched, Rael felt the surge. A wave of raw, unfiltered emotion crashed into him—pain, regret, longing. It filled the void inside him, feeding his essence, anchoring him further in the mortal realm.

And in return, power flooded into Elara.

Her eyes widened as dark tattoos began to snake up her arm, pulsing with energy.

The First Bond