Chapter 4: The Retribution of Resurrection

The sky was painted in golden hues as dawn broke, casting a soft glow over the sleepy streets. The city slowly woke up as merchants set up their stalls and the sounds of people starting their day filled the air. Birds chirped, creating a soothing melody that blended with the rustle of leaves in the morning breeze.

In a worn-out but cozy home, Elise stood in the kitchen, slicing veggies with practiced ease. After the previous night's emotional exchange, she felt refreshed and ready to start the day. The smell of steaming rice and fresh greens filled the small space. A hum escaped her lips, a cheerful tune that reflected the lightness in her heart.

She turned her head toward the hallway and called out, "Brother! Stop taking so long in the bath. Come out and help me set the table!"

The sound of running water ceased, and soon, Ethan emerged, his damp hair clinging slightly to his forehead. He wore a simple but clean shirt, his lean frame appearing slightly more upright than usual.

Without a word, he moved towards the dining area and began setting the plates and arranging the cutlery with precision. Once the food was served, they sat down and began eating their humble yet carefully prepared breakfast—a simple meal of rice, vegetables, and small fish.

Elise watched her brother for a moment, noticing something peculiar. He seemed… different. Not in a physical manner, but there was a shift in his mood. A lightness to his demeanor, a certain energy that hadn't been there before, at least not in recent years. She took a bite of her food and decided to probe.

"You seem happy," she remarked, tilting her head. "Did something happen last night after I fell asleep?"

Ethan smirked, setting his chopsticks down. "You mean after you cried yourself to sleep in your brother's embrace?" he teased. "You are still a child, so don't worry. If you need your big brother's cuddling again, just ask. No need to be embarrassed."

Elise's face turned red in an instant. "Wha—?! Don't forget you cried too! If you keep teasing me, I'll tell Adrian how you cried too!"

Ethan chuckled, his tone light and playful. "Oh? Go right ahead. I doubt he'll care more about me crying than you."

Elise shot him a glare and, in retaliation, snatched the fish from his bowl. "No fish for those who disrespect the chef."

"Hey! That's mine! No stealing!" Ethan reached over trying to grab the fish back, but Elise was faster.

A short-lived battle ensued as chopsticks clashed in the air, the two siblings locked in a ridiculous skirmish over breakfast. Finally, Elise huffed in defeat and relented.

"Fine. You win. But if you ever mention that again, I swear I'll kill you."

Ethan threw his head back and laughed, standing up on his chair dramatically. "Hahaha! Now do you understand the consequences of defying me? Never try to mess with your older brother. I am the best, remember that! Hahaha!"

Instead of the expected retort, Elise simply observed him with a soft, knowing smile. Ethan caught the expression and narrowed his eyes.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that? Normally, you'd be furious and hit me with every piece of insult you know before emotionally blackmailing me."

Elise leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her palm. "Something really did happen last night, didn't it? You're acting… different. Happier. I don't even remember the last time I saw you like this."

Ethan's expression softened, the amusement in his eyes dimming. He exhaled, leaning back against his chair. "Looks like I really can't hide anything from you."

He picked up a grain of rice with his chopsticks, twirling it absently before sighing. "You're right. Something happened. Something that might change our miserable life."

The Night Before

Silence settled over the room, broken only by the unsteady rhythm of Ethan's breath. The mysterious voice had finally stopped crying, but the weight of her emotions still clung to the air like an unshakable mist.

{Why? Why must I be stuck with such a host? Why is my luck always so wretched? Everyone else has better options—why me?!}

Ethan groaned, rubbing his temples. "Ok, now you are pushing it. I already apologized! How many times do you want me to say it? Besides, I did not even say anything that offensive."

{Hah! Apologize, my bottom. Don't think I can't see the anger in your eyes, you—}

"WELL, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT ME TO DO?!" His voice cracked as frustration boiled over.

The room fell into stillness. The weight of his words pressed down, lingering in the space between them.

When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. "For a moment, I thought I was insane. That this was all just a cruel, elaborate dream before death finally took me. That I'd wake up back in that hell." His fingers curled into fists. "I was terrified. Terrified of losing all that I regained."

The voice was silent for a long moment before she spoke, her voice uncharacteristically soft.

{I didn't consider that… I'm sorry.}

A small, bitter smile tugged at Ethan's lips as he exhaled slowly. "It's fine. I am sorry too. I should not have overreacted."

No words were exchanged for a while. Only the fidgeting of Ethan made a sound.

"Guess this got awkward, huh? How about this? Let's start over, shall we? I'm Ethan. I suppose you're the one I should thank for bringing me back?"

{Yes. You are correct.}

"Thank you, truly. I am in your debt. So what do you want from me?"

{Why do you suppose I need something from you?}

"Because the world can be a cruel place where nothing is free. So just tell me straight up. Who are you? And what exactly do you want from me?"

A quiet, almost amused chuckle echoed from the unseen speaker.

{Rather than what I want, let us first discuss what you desire, shall we?}

At that moment, the darkness in the room stirred as if it was awake. Shadows began to twist and writhe. The air thickened with an otherworldly energy as the silhouette gradually sharpened, piece by piece.

Before Ethan's widening eyes, a figure emerged—a presence that defied simple human description. A human? No, she only looked like a girl. Ethan could feel it. She was something beyond mortal comprehension.

Her long, black hair flowed down her back like a waterfall, each strand moving like liquid darkness, absorbing the soft light around her. The edges of her body seemed to flicker like she was somewhere between this world and something more otherworldly. Her skin was as pale as undisturbed snow, strikingly contrasting against the darkness of her hair and giving her an otherworldly, almost ghost-like presence.

Her eyes—piercing, crimson, and pulsing like twin embers—burned with an ancient, unyielding intensity. They seemed to strip Ethan of every pretense, delving deep into the core of his soul.

A shiver ran down his spine; every instinct screamed that he stood before something far beyond human understanding.

"My true name is beyond mortal comprehension, but for conversation's sake, you may call me Mary."

Ethan swallowed hard. "Mary, huh? Alright… so who—"

{My identity is not something you can grasp. You are neither strong nor qualified enough to understand it, but that matters little right now. What matters is what I've brought you.}

Ethan's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Brought me?"

The air around Mary seemed to warp as if space itself bowed to her will. And then, in a flash of light and distortion, a message materialized in the darkness:

[PREDATOR SYSTEM ONLINE]

Before he could ask anything, a cold sweat broke out on Ethan's skin as he struggled to form a word. "What—" he began, but before he could finish, agony struck like a bolt of lightning. It was as if something was burrowing into him, latching onto his very soul, and reshaping his existence.

Every breath became a battle; his lungs burned, and his body agitated violently in a desperate rejection of the force invading him. It felt like his soul was being unmade and remade in the most brutal way imaginable.

"Looks like it began already, " Mary observed in a calm, detached tone. "The pain seems far worse than I heard."

"What--is--happening?" Ethan managed to choke out, his voice barely a whisper as he crumpled to his knees. Each ragged breath trembled with agony, and his entire body shuddered under the relentless assault.

"Retribution," Mary replied evenly. "Did you really think that bringing a soul back in time would come without consequence?" With deliberate precision, she raised a single finger that began to glow with soft, radiant light, reducing some of Ethan's pain. " Don't worry. This torment will last only a few minutes—or perhaps a few hours—depending on your luck and karma. After that, the pain will fade, never returning."

"Hours?" Ethan thought, but the word was lost in the violent whirlpool of suffering that overwhelmed him. His vision blurred, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness. Then, Mary's steady voice cut through the haze: "Do not lose consciousness. If you do, everything will be lost. But if you endure, you will gain the power you desire. Endure—for your revenge, for your sister's sake."

Time itself became meaningless as Ethan lay on the cold floor. Was it minutes? Hours? The agony was all-consuming, yet one thought burned in his mind like a fragile ember amidst the darkness: REVENGE.

At last, the storm began to subside. The searing pain faded away until, slowly, it was as if nothing had ever happened. Ethan gasped, drenched in sweat, his limbs trembling as he forced himself to sit up. "What... was that?" he whispered, his voice ragged and uncertain.

Mary's form flickered, her presence barely holding together. "It was a repair," she explained. "Without it, you would not have survived. And there is a small gift as well—I trust you can sense its presence."

Ethan's heart pounded as he felt a stirring within him, a raw, unfamiliar power coursing through his veins—power far beyond his wildest dreams. Yet, alongside this surge of strength, an unsettling dread crept into his chest.

"Why?" he managed, summoning the will to rise and meet her gaze. "Why give me this? Who are you, truly?"

A devilish smirk played on Mary's lips. "I am Mary. Your personal helper—and, if I may add, a rather adorable one at that."

Ethan's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "That's not an answer."

She sighed softly, stepping closer. "You're asking the wrong questions, Ethan."

"Then tell me the correct ones."

After a heavy pause, she leaned in and whispered, "The question you should ask is how I can help you—a meek, defenseless sheep, trampled by this cruel world—transform into a fierce tiger."

Ethan froze, the weight of her words sinking deep into his soul. Mary tilted her head, her gaze a blend of amusement and mystery. "You will find your answers in time. But for now..." Her form began to fade as the shadows unraveled around her. "Do not ask too many questions. Some things are best left unknown. "

"Wait," Ethan groaned, reaching out desperately as she dissolved into the air.

"Get some sleep, kiddo. Don't worry. When the time is right, I will come find you. For now, goodbye," she said softly, her voice fading with the last wisps of her form.

Overwhelmed by exhaustion and the crushing weight of his suffering, Ethan finally succumbed to darkness, his consciousness slipping away as the first stirrings of a new power began to take root.