|| Prologue ll

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The loud banging sounds of the metal door resounded within the darkroom. The hinges of the door creaked loudly at every blow. Countless men stood behind this door. Men laced with bitterness and urged to taste blood—specifically, the blood of the person refusing to allow them entry. But who are they to judge? If they were in his shoes, of course, they'd refuse to open the door. With almost a hundred men, armed and ready to kill, standing behind the steel entrance, anyone would be terrified.

However, the subject of their hatred didn't wear an ounce of fear on his face. He was calmly sitting on the chair before a simple wooden table. Solemnity layered his blue eyes, a dazzling color of cerulean. He looked flawless and beautiful. Slender eyebrows, perfectly curved. A tall nose, faultlessly rosy cheeks. His eyes were the most wondrous of all. Cadel felt unusually peaceful as he sat. With a glass of warm honeyed water in his hand, he smiled wistfully. Although he looked calm, he was bleeding, wounded.

His blood seeped out from the wounds on his back, dripping until it made a crimson puddle beneath his chair. However, he remained unfazed.

He was free.

Well, he felt free...

He had wrenched himself from the control of the Soul parasite that had restricted him all his life. It made him the killing machine that he was.

This world was once a peaceful place. At least, it was what his grandfather had told him. People had evolved, possessing supernatural abilities and advancing tremendously in knowledge. However, what shattered this perfect world was brought by an unknown meteor that crashed into an island. The typically curious people of the world were brave enough to go near it. It results in releasing an unknown matter that would feed on the human soul and weaponize them—governing their mind and destroying their ability to think.

Numerous countries unite under the leadership of one emperor. Physical damage would do nothing to the entity. Instead, the only way to fight it was to battle it with the mind. However, the only person strong enough in body and mind was the Black monarch, Vein Country's emperor. Unfortunately, he failed to wake up in his cryo-chamber, leaving the whole world hopeless. In less than five years, the alliance between countries broke apart, and a new society, worshippers of the Soul Parasite, arose. They take children and force them to bind with their putrid 'God.' Cadel was freshly orphaned and was an easy target. It wasn't long before he realized he was soaking in red.

He didn't want to... He really didn't want to. As a child, he had a weak mind. He was easily manipulated and broken—the sweetest morsel for the Soul Parasite.

But now... He learned to steel his mind and his heart. He was already drained dry, and before the Soul parasite could finish him off, he sought pain to bring him back to reality. Yes, the wounds in his body were made by his own hands. He'd rather accept any execution than let his soul be devoured for nourishment.

Now that he had escaped his destined fate, there was so much he wished to do, to have. Like building a lovely cabin in the woods, explore the cold mountains of the north, relax on a beach of an unknown island. He would vow not to hurt anyone again. Anywhere where he could be alone. However, he couldn't deny that he wished to be wanted, to be loved. He wanted to experience what his books had shown him. To experience the wild emotions that would occur inside you... as absurd as that sounds, he felt it was mysterious and exciting.

Unfortunately, it seems death didn't want to give up.

It was a pity he could no longer fulfill his wishes.

Finally, a loud explosion blew the door open. Cadel didn't turn.

"Restrain him!"

Countless people flooded the room. The faultless glass of unfinished honeyed water crashed to the floor. Glass shards flew, and the sweet water mixed with the blood-red puddle on the floor.

Cadel didn't recall what happened afterward. But there was extreme pain all over his body. He could no longer see with his right eye; he could not move; he couldn't speak. His mouth was filled with the taste of iron, and he wanted to spit it out so badly. He failed to realize that his eye was gouged out, his limbs sliced off, and his teeth and nails pulled out. He had forgotten to scream out. He recalled his grandfather telling him to cry out and scream if he was hurt. There was no need to hold everything inside.

Something heavy and hot pressed against his forehead. A gun tapped his skull, and Cadel looked up.

"Pity. With such a pretty face, you could have used it against us. Why so obedient? Bet your disgusting people have used your pretty ass for years." The man holding the gun spat. "How are you so obedient, hm? Well, I don't give a fuck anymore. Since you saved us the trouble, I'll grant you a quick death this time."

Oblivious to the people around him, the corners of Cadel's lips twitched into a smile.

"Thank you for freeing me..." It was a whisper. No one could hear it.

He was smiling out of gratitude, but it wasn't what the men thought.

Is this bastard fucking with us?

Someone landed a kick on Cadel's head, and the gun in front of the youth's face moved and was shoved inside his mouth.

The man sneered, "Stay in hell, bastard."

BANG!!

....

He felt like he was floating.

Cadel slowly opened his eyes. He wasn't floating but standing. A vast space of pure white welcomed his eyes. He was barefooted, and a fitting suit of silver replaced the clothes he recalled he'd worn.

"..."

He was dead. So... What is he doing here? What is this place?

Ping!

Suddenly, a small round object appeared before his eyes. Shocked, Cadel flinched backwards.

It was like a small round marshmallow with two tiny little black dots for eyes. They flattened as though blinking. It looked so velvety soft.

Cadel paused.

Is it edible?

"Ding! Ding! Welcome host for binding with Haven of Peace System!" The round ball spoke.

Cadel blinked.

...

Haven of what?