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

Elara's body moved on instinct, her shadows lashing forward to meet the wraith's strike. The creature was fast—faster than anything she had faced before. It twisted midair, avoiding her attack with an unnatural grace, before lunging at her with clawed hands that pulsed with raw energy.

She barely dodged, rolling to the side as the ground where she had stood cracked from the impact.

"Don't waste movement," Rael called from the edge of the pit. His voice was steady, but Elara could hear the warning beneath it. "It's testing you."

Her breath steadied as she focused. The wraith wasn't attacking mindlessly—it was watching, waiting for her to make a mistake. It circled her slowly, its hollow eyes glowing with an eerie light.

Elara didn't dodge this time. Instead, she stepped forward, meeting the attack head-on. Her shadows surged, clashing with the wraith's energy in a violent explosion of power. The force of it sent a shockwave through the pit, rattling the very walls of the chamber.

For a moment, everything was still.

Then, the wraith let out a piercing shriek, recoiling from the impact. The air around it shimmered, its form flickering as if struggling to maintain its shape.

Elara narrowed her eyes. It's not invincible.

She pressed the advantage, channeling her hunger into her attack. Shadows lashed forward like chains, wrapping around the wraith's limbs, binding it in place. The creature thrashed violently, but she held firm, tightening her grip.

And then she did something she had never done before.

A rush of energy surged through her, raw and electric, as she siphoned the wraith's strength into herself. The creature's shrieks turned into wails, its body convulsing as its very essence was drained away.

The hunger inside her roared in satisfaction.

And then, with one final tremor, the wraith collapsed into nothingness, leaving only the crackling remnants of its power behind.

Then, slow, deliberate claps echoed through the space.

Kalen stepped forward, a smirk playing at his lips. "Impressive."

Elara exhaled, releasing the last of the energy she had absorbed. Her body still hummed with power, but she forced herself to remain steady.

Kalen gestured toward the pit. "Most initiates don't survive that."

Elara met his gaze. "I'm not like most initiates."

The other figures around the chamber began murmuring, their hushed voices carrying through the air. Some looked at her with approval. Others with something closer to fear.

Kalen reached into his coat, pulling out a small dagger with a gleaming black blade. He extended it toward her.

"You're one of us now," he said. "Take this as proof."

Elara hesitated only a moment before gripping the dagger's hilt. The moment she touched it, a jolt of energy coursed through her veins, as if the weapon itself recognized her.

She wasn't just surviving anymore.

She was becoming something else.

Kalen's smirk deepened. "Welcome to the Eclipse Syndicate."

THE MONSTER IN THE PIT