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 world trembled as Elara stepped closer to the Gate. The obsidian monolith pulsed with raw, ancient energy, responding to her presence. The whispers were no longer just voices in the wind—they were inside her mind, unraveling the boundaries between past and future, between who she was and who she could become.

Rael stood just behind her, his crimson eyes flickering between worry and resolve. His grip on his sword was tight, knuckles white. "Elara… you don't have to do this."

Darius Vale, ever composed, stood at a distance with his golden eyes calculating every move. His voice was smooth, unreadable. "You already know that's not true."

Elara did have to do this.

Before she could step through the Gate, reality fractured.

Three versions of herself stood before her, like ghosts of futures waiting to be claimed.

🔥 The Destroyer—wreathed in black fire, eyes hollow with power. Her voice was a growl, filled with hunger. "Burn it all. Tear down the Veil. Become something greater than mortal. You don't need to protect them—make them bow."

🌓 The Guardian—bathed in soft silver light, her armor glinting like the last hope of a dying world. "You know what's right," she said, voice steady. "Seal the Gate. Free yourself. Free them. Power is nothing if it destroys everything."

👁️ The Usurper—cloaked in shadows, yet seated upon a throne of obsidian, her expression a mixture of amusement and danger. "Why choose between the two?" she whispered. "Take control. You don't have to follow their rules—you can rewrite them."

Each of them was her. Each of them spoke a truth she had already considered.

Rael took a step forward. "Elara, whatever this is—fight it. You don't have to listen to them."

Darius crossed his arms, watching. Waiting.

And then… the Gate began to open.

A crack formed in the monolith, stretching across the sky. From within, a storm of darkness and memory surged outward, as if the very fabric of reality had been waiting for this moment to collapse.

The whispers became screams.

The city of Varos, already damaged, began to warp—streets twisting into impossible shapes, buildings flickering between existence and nonexistence. The void-touched howled as their bodies shifted, caught between worlds.

Elara could feel everything.

The power. The pull. The weight of eternity pressing against her chest.

Her fingers curled around the Voidborne Pendant, the artifact that had led her to this moment. It pulsed in time with her racing heart.

🔥 If she destroys the Veil…

The world will change. The balance between realms will be shattered, and she will ascend into something beyond mortal comprehension. But will there be anything left worth ruling?

🌓 If she seals the Veil…

She will walk away from this power, let it fade into legend. The Gate will close forever, and she will remain… just Elara. But what of those who still hunger for what lies beyond?

👁️ If she takes the Throne…

She will not destroy the Gate, nor close it. She will claim it, bend it to her will. But can she hold onto her humanity in the process?

The weight of the choice bore down on her.

Behind her, Rael was shouting something, but she could barely hear him over the storm. Darius had stepped forward now, eyes filled with something like curiosity.

The Forgotten One spoke from beyond the Gate, its voice wrapping around her like silk and steel.

"Choose, Shadowmarked."

Elara reached forward—

Ascension or Ruin