Chapter 1- Sacrifice

Everything was on fire, it was an inferno. The whole village was burning to ashes and a lone man was standing on top of a hill watching over the destroyed hamlet.

The air was a mixture of the smell of smoke and iron. It was so sickening, not even a single bird or insect went near it. Kyuuji stood still as he inhaled the smell of his fallen brethren, his own people which he slew with his own hands.

He is contemplating whether what he did was right or wrong, but if it was for the sake of peace then he believed he did the right thing. Even though, it killed him inside to take more than a hundred lives of his own blood.

He closed his eyes expecting to see the horrifying scene when he killed them, but a beautiful face with a warm smile welcomed him which was more painful than anything. He could have spared that little girl, that fragile and innocent girl who knows nothing about the world.

The beautiful image was shattered, his memory flashed a small body screaming in anguish as he sliced through her petite body as he muttered the words 'I'm sorry'. What he witnessed next was more harrowing, when the brown-haired girl suddenly moved which shocked him, and crawled slowly towards her dead family.

He let her grip her mother's hand before he finally landed the last attack cutting across her back forming an 'X' mark as blood continuously flowed.

Finally, his mission was over, they're all dead, gone forever. His knee lost all the strength supporting him and knelt down beside her as tears escaped away.

The girl was the reason why the mission was delayed, it was expected to be earlier. He love that girl so much to the point he killed her for her own good. He wanted so badly to meet her again, maybe one day when he dies he thought. But, will she forgive him? He does not need forgiveness, just to meet her again was all he wanted and needed.

He opened his eyes, no more emotions could be seen in his eyes rather it was empty.

A white-cloaked man walked towards him as he remove his hood, revealing an old man with a frown on his face. He was also in grief, to see people die again.

He took out an old black, leather book and passed it to the young man beside him.

"Here it is, you must destroy it for the past to never be repeated again."

Kyuuji reached out for the forbidden book and destroyed it a second after staring at it. The wind carried the tiny pieces of papers towards the fire and it was burned to ashes.

"They are waiting for us near the Southern border, we are expected to be there in an hour."

His teacher said, his body did not send any confirmation but, the old man knew his student is aware. He then pulled his hood over his head and ran away from the conflagration as he jump from a tree to another.

Kyuuji turned around and began running also, catching up to his teacher.

'Your death will not be in vain I promise. When this damned world is finally saved, we shall meet again, Asuna'

Little did he know, that the girl he presumed was dead was still breathing, she was still alive, gasping for air with all the energy she have left. She was lying beside a tree, near her parents and her fallen siblings. Her eyes were observing everything around her from the broken pots to the blood spilled all over the place and lifeless bodies scattered everywhere.

She thought why she was still alive, she was struck twice maybe it is because of her luck. Yeah, she was lucky enough to be experiencing the most painful thing right now. It was not the wounds she received that were painful, not even the fire that is slowly consuming her body, it was witnessing the tragic deaths of her own family at such a young age and not being able to repeat the happy memories that were flashing before her.

She's eight, just barely a decade living. She does not even know what the outside looks like. She was just presented with pictures and books from the person she admired the most. If her own home was this unsightly what more of the outside world. This is the reality where everyone is an enemy. Trust and you will be betrayed, love and you will hate.

Is there even meaning in life?

She once loved everything, could not even hurt a single fly. Now, she wanted to kill that man and destroy everything. Could she even do it when she is dying, just minutes before she reunites with her family? She hang on for a bit more, she wanted to live to avenge her family but, she wants to meet them again. Is there any way she could choose both? She was greedy just for once, and that greediness turned into power which was unexpected for her.

"I...beg of you...if anyone c-can hear me...destroy this...world..." Her voice was raspy and so dry you could compare it to a desert.

A black sphere slowly formed just inches away from her face. Maybe this thing could fulfill her wishes. Painfully, her hand stretched out towards the black sphere. She touched it.

"Can you...fulfill it...?"

The sphere did not respond.

"...my wish...?"

This time the black sphere glowed a little.

"...avenge me and...my fallen clan..."

She held back a little before she continued.

"...and...I will...give you everything...remaining in me...but...it's just hate and pain..."

The sphere grew big.

"...it's not enough...I see..."

"...you want...something else..."

"...my soul...?"

The black sphere became bigger and its particles circled, signaling it was exciting, she chuckled.

"...you're greedy...just like me..."

"...then...if you can fulfill it..."

"...take it..."

The black hole was excited more than ever before.

It was as if her voice changed to something else, a monster wanting to devour everything.

"...take my soul!...", she growled in pure greed.

"...I sacrifice everything..."

The black sphere began to cover Asuna with its dark form, starting from her fingers. Swiveling around her arm, around her body until all that's left was her head. The black shadow engulfed her small bruised face, her lifeless peach skin turning pale, dyeing her hair black.

She could feel it, the soul of another who was rapidly taking over her body. The soul felt warm despite its black color whispering her lullabies, sending her to a night of deep...deep sleep.

"Rest my dear child, until you gain enough power. That person will change your destiny..."

The voices of many souls resonated in her mind before she finally fell into a deep slumber.