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

The Midnight Bazaar was unlike anything Elara had ever seen.

Stretched beneath the ruins of an old cathedral, it pulsed with life in the way only forbidden places could. Lanterns of deep violet and crimson bathed the underground streets in eerie light. Vendors lined the stone corridors, their stalls filled with relics, artifacts, and items that defied logic. Whispers of strange deals and dangerous promises lingered in the air, each voice laced with secrecy and power.

Elara pulled her hood lower, moving carefully through the shifting crowd. Every step she took was measured—she could feel the presence of something more in this place. It was as if the very walls breathed with unseen energy.

Beside her, Rael walked in silence, his expression unreadable. "Eyes open. The Bazaar is neutral ground, but that doesn't mean it's safe."

Elara's gaze flicked to the people around her. She saw traders with gleaming silver eyes, creatures wrapped in cloaks of shifting smoke, and men whose shadows didn't quite match their movements. Everyone here had power. And everyone had a secret.

At the heart of the Bazaar, an auction stage loomed above the crowd. A masked figure stood before it, their voice carrying through the cavernous space. "The next item for sale—an artifact of rare and ancient power. The pendant of the Voidborne."

She scanned the audience, searching for Darius Vale. It didn't take long. He sat near the front, relaxed but alert, his fingers tapping absently against the armrest of his chair.

Kalen had been right—this wasn't just a simple collector. There was something more to him.

The auctioneer continued. "Starting bid, ten thousand drakes."

Elara's mind raced. She didn't have time for an auction. She needed to act before the pendant changed hands.

Rael's voice was calm. "What's the plan?"

Elara's lips curled into a smirk. "We take it."

As the bidding began, Elara moved. She weaved through the crowd, her pulse steady, her shadows coiling at her fingertips.

THE MIDNIGHT BAZAAR