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 hand hovered over the Voidborne Pendant, her heartbeat syncing with the Gate's pulse. The air was thick with power—power that could reshape everything.

Behind her, Rael's voice was strained. "Elara, don't do this."

Darius Vale, ever composed, simply watched. His golden eyes reflected the swirling abyss, and for the first time, he looked uncertain. "It seems the moment of truth has arrived."

The Forgotten One stirred beyond the Gate, its presence pressing against the edges of reality. It was waiting.

A slow smile spread across Elara's face as she gripped the pendant tighter. The voices, the whispers, the hunger inside her—they were no longer something to be feared.

They were hers to command.

She ripped open the Gate.

The world shattered as the Veil collapsed, shadows pouring out like a flood. Varos was consumed in an instant, the sky tearing apart as reality unraveled. The screams of the void-touched were lost in the storm of dark energy that surged through her, filling every inch of her being.

Rael's voice called out one last time—then was silenced.

And she stood alone in the abyss.

Then, with all her strength, she crushed the pendant in her hands.

The Gate screamed as a shockwave burst from its core, pushing back the shadows, forcing the abyss to retreat. The monolith cracked, its power collapsing in on itself.

The Veil sealed shut.

Elara fell to her knees, gasping. The pendant's shards crumbled into dust between her fingers, the last traces of its power fading.

Rael caught her before she hit the ground. "You did it," he breathed.

Varos was still standing. Broken, but alive.

Darius exhaled, shaking his head. "You just made a lot of enemies, Shadowmarked."

Elara looked at her hands—powerless now.

She reached forward—not to close the Gate, not to destroy it… but to claim it.

Power rushed through her as the monolith twisted and shifted, forming around her. The whispers became a chorus, voices singing her name. The throne of obsidian rose from the abyss, and she stepped onto it.

It was in recognition.

She was no pawn. No mere successor.

She was its queen.

Rael's voice was distant. "Elara…?"

Darius took a slow step back, his expression unreadable.

It was her kingdom now.

The Path Taken