The air grew heavier.
A slow, steady pulse echoed from deep within Zareth's chest each beat heavier than the last, as if something buried inside him had begun to breathe.
Each beat carried weight pressing outward, spreading through his veins like a silent command his body couldn't ignore.
"Wait… system?" He stopped for a second before continuing.
"Am I tripping? I know I saw that. Show my stats again."
[System]
The response didn't come immediately.
Silence answered him.
The air in the room grew tighter, heavier, as if something unseen had begun to press inward from all sides.
The slow pulse in Zareth's chest deepened, each beat heavier than the last, echoing through his veins like a second heartbeat that didn't belong to him.
The space in front of him wavered, not violently, not like before but subtly, like heat rising off stone. The distortion lingered, stretching thin before settling.
And then it appeared.
Very Cleared.
********************************
[SYSTEM STATUS]
Host: Zareth Ashveil
Status: Active
Classification: Vessel
Bloodline: Ashveil Core — Shinma Vessel (Awakened)
Level: 6
Experience: 33 / 100
Core Attributes:
Strength: 22
Perception: 16
Agility: 17
Speed: 16
Bravery: 12
Intelligence: 11
Charm: 10
Credits: 65
********************************
Zareth didn't speak.
His eyes remained fixed on the display, his gaze sharp, searching not for the numbers, but for what felt wrong.
"…Vessel."
The word left his mouth quietly.
"Why are my Core Attributes this high? Last time I checked, they were barely anything."
The system didn't answer.
Zareth waited.
Nothing moved. No flicker, no sound just that quiet, heavy stillness filling the room.
"Hah."
He let out a small breath, more annoyed than confused.
Not from the screen.
From his chest.
Zareth's hand twitched slightly, his fingers curling as the feeling spread through him, sinking deeper than muscle into something he couldn't name.
Looking around, the empty room and lifeless space stirred something uneasy in Zareth, a quiet curiosity creeping into his mind.
"Kageyuki."
Zareth's voice cut through the silence, low but steady.
"Are you here? Show yourself."
He paused for a second, his gaze sharpening.
"I know you understand this so don't act like a coward."
The moment the word left his mouth, he knew it was reckless.
Calling a demon a coward?
Stupid.
"I'm better than yo—"
His words were cut short.
The air shifted.
Without warning, a presence formed right in front of him silent, sudden, absolute.
Kageyuki stood there.
Zareth's eyes widened slightly.
His body reacted before his mind could catch up.
He stepped back fast.
"Oh… so you showed up."
A faint smirk tugged at Zareth's lips.
"Was it because I called you a coward?"
The tension that had coiled tightly around his body moments ago slowly eased. His shoulders lowered, his breathing steadied but his eyes remained sharp, fixed on the figure before him.
Kageyuki's gaze remained steady, unreadable.
"I'm here because you called me."
A brief pause.
"You summoned me."
His eyes lingered on Zareth, as if measuring something beneath the surface.
"We're connected."
The air around him seemed to grow heavier.
"Not just you and me…"
Another pause longer this time.
"All of us are."
A faint smile touched his lips, but there was no warmth in it.
"You just don't understand it yet."
Zareth stare Kageyuki in his Pale Silver with a faint violet ring.
He took small steps toward him.
Then stopped.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Say it straight already. Don't hold back… and don't make me wait."
Kageyuki didn't answer immediately.
He simply watched him.
Those pale silver eyes ringed faintly with violet didn't blink. They didn't waver. They studied Zareth the way one would study something unfamiliar
"You feel it, don't you?"
His voice was quiet.
Zareth's brows tightened slightly.
"Feel what?"
Kageyuki tilted his head, just a fraction.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"Come with me outside… and you'll understand everything."
Without waiting for a response,
Kageyuki turned and walked toward the door.
He stopped just before reaching it.
Then slowly turned his head back toward Zareth and waited.
Zareth didn't move.
Not at first.
But then he followed.
One step.
Then another.
"Understand everything?"
As he walked toward Kageyuki, he noticed the tension in the air thick, yet strangely calming.
He stopped beside him.
Zareth stared into Kageyuki's silver eyes before speaking again.
The moment Kageyuki opened the door.
Zareth's eyes widened.
It had changed.
The world beyond the doorway was no longer his dorm.
The narrow hallway was gone replaced by a quiet, unfamiliar street lined with old wooden houses. Their sliding doors were shut, lanterns hanging from the eaves, swaying slightly despite the absence of wind.
Zareth stepped forward slowly.
His foot left the wooden floor of his room and met the earth beneath it, as if it welcomed him.
The world recognized him.
He took a few small steps, his eyes scanning the surroundings as if searching for something
"This isn't… my dorm."
The moment he turned to where Kageyuki had been standing, the space was empty.
As if he had never been there at all.
When Zareth looked back, the door had vanished completely.
There was no door only trees, tangled branches, and exposed roots.
The loud, crowded city where he had been born was gone.
In its place stood a quiet, eerie village.
Zareth's body tensed, frustration mixing with fear.
"You bastard…"
His jaw tightened as his gaze sharpened.
"Kageyuki!"
His voice rose, echoing through the empty space.
"You can't just leave me here! Where are you?!"
The anger finally broke through raw and unfiltered.
"Show yourself, you son of a bitch!"
With no other choice, Zareth stepped forward into the silence, searching for answers, or whatever was waiting for him.
The ground crunched faintly beneath his feet dry soil, scattered gravel, roots breaking through the surface like veins. Every step echoed more than it should have, the sound stretching unnaturally before fading.
The village didn't feel empty.
At the same time, it felt familiar and yet not entirely clear.
Zareth's gaze moved from house to house, slow and deliberate. Wooden walls worn by time. Sliding doors shut tight. Lanterns swaying gently, though the air itself was still.
No wind.
No sound.
Only a quiet, suffocating stillness pressing against him.
Then suddenly.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
Forced Resynchronization Identity Overwrite in 10 Seconds
Zareth stopped.
"What?"
10
Without waiting, the countdown began. The system didn't ask for his consent.
9
8
Zareth scanned his surroundings, alert and ready. Danger could strike at any moment.
7
6
"Why is this happening again? This is the second time."
Breathe.
His heart pounded violently, each beat echoing with nervousness as if it might burst from his chest.
5
4
Branches snapped slow, heavy, deliberate. Zareth's body tightened at once, every sense on edge, as the system continued its process.
"Hello… is anyone there? Show yourself."
3
2
The pulse in his chest slammed harder faster.
Branches snapped again.
He turned sharply, every muscle tightening, his stance shifting on instinct.
"Who's there?!"
1
His body remained tense, bracing for the final blow. The rustling sound stopped for a moment.
Then.
Nothing happened.
Zareth stood in silence, waiting for the inevitable.
His eyes moved slowly, scanning the empty space around him.
Then he lifted his left foot and stepped forward.
But suddenly his vision blurred, and his body gave out, dropping him to the ground.
[SYSTEM]
Initialization Complete
His vision blurred violently, the world twisting out of focus before his body finally gave in.
Zareth collapsed.
The ground met him hard and everything went dark.
Silence returned to the village.
The lanterns swayed faintly.
The trees stood still.
And from the shadows a figure emerged.
A swordsman.
Clad in a dark uniform fitted for movement, a sheathed blade resting at his side. A haori hung loosely over his shoulders plain at first glance, but marked with a subtle pattern that set him apart.
His presence was quiet.
Controlled.
Like someone used to walking through danger without hesitation.
He stopped a few steps away from
Zareth's fallen body.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"A human?"
Zareth's system remained active, even as his body lay completely unconscious.
[System]
Host Name: Zareth Ashveil
Memories: Removing
Personality Core: Resetting
Level: Resetting
Experience: Resetting
[Core Attributes: Resetting to Default Values]
Strength: 22 → 0
Perception: 16 → 0
Agility: 17 → 0
Speed: 16 → 0
Bravery: 12 → 0
Intelligence: 11 → 0
Charm: 10 → 0
[Credits: 65 → 0]
Without a word, the swordsman bent down and lifted Zareth onto his shoulder.
Effortless.
Then he turned, walking away from the village.
They moved with discipline.
Precise.
Controlled.
Each wore the same base uniform dark, fitted, built for combat but over it, haori style different every single one.
Some were plain with a single color.
Others carried patterns sharp lines, faded edges, quiet symbols.
Symbolizing there own power.
Just enough to tell them apart.
Their swords rested at their sides.
Their presence was enough to show
They arrived at the headquarters as the night settled.
Tall wooden gates stood ahead wide, reinforced, and marked with a single crest at the center.
Two guards stood on either side, their uniforms neat, their haori flowing lightly behind them.
They noticed him immediately.
"You're back."
Their eyes shifted to the figure on his shoulder.
A brief pause.
"Who is that?"
"We don't know. He looks like an adventurer," the swordsman said calmly. "I found him outside the boundary. Hopefully, he still remembers everything."
The guards exchanged a glance.
The gates opened.
Inside.
The atmosphere changed.
Warm lantern light lined the paths, casting soft shadows across the wooden walkways.
Traditional buildings stood in quiet order, their sliding doors closed, their rooftops curved and clean.
The grounds were nearly empty only a handful of swordsmen stood within it. No noise, no crowd. Each one carried a presence strong enough to fill the space alone.
The next day.
Zareth's eyes slowly opened. He found himself in a hospital room. Inside, there were eight beds four on the left and four on the right.
The room was simple, quiet, and welcoming. Neatly arranged. No clutter. No unnecessary decoration.
"So you're finally awake."
The voice was calm, slightly rough, like someone who didn't talk much unless needed.
Zareth's head turned immediately.
A boy around his age sat upright on one of the beds, leaning back casually as if he had been watching for a while.
His uniform was already on, though slightly loose at the collar. His haori rested beside him, folded with care.
His eyes met Zareth's.
Zareth felt disoriented, a sharp pain piercing his forehead.
He lifted his hand, pressing it against his temple as he rubbed it slowly.
"What happened and where am I?"
The boy didn't answer immediately.
He watched Zareth for a moment long enough to notice the tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes moved too quickly.
"You don't remember?" he asked.
Zareth's hand slowly lowered from his forehead.
His brows furrowed slightly.
"Remember what?"
A pause.
The boy leaned back a little, exhaling through his nose.
"Tch… great. Another one."
Zareth's gaze sharpened instantly.
"Another what?"
The boy ignored the question for a second, reaching for his haori and slipping it over his shoulders with practiced ease.
Then he looked back at Zareth.
"You were found outside the boundary," he said plainly. "Unconscious."
"Outside" he muttered.
Just that uneasy feeling pressing against the back of his mind.
Zareth clenched his fist slightly.
"I don't remember that."
The boy studied him carefully.
"Name."
Zareth blinked once.
Then answered without hesitation.
"Zareth Ashveil."
Sit up and look around.
And someone came in the room.
A tall man with a build body with a white hair.
Zareth slowly sat up, the motion stiff but controlled.
His eyes moved around the room again eight beds, clean, aligned, quiet. No wasted space. No unnecessary noise.
Then.
The door slid open.
A presence entered.
Zareth's gaze shifted immediately.
A tall man stepped inside.
Broad-shouldered. Well-built. Every movement precise, carrying the kind of weight that didn't need to announce itself.
His hair was white unnaturally so falling slightly over sharp, composed features. His eyes were calm, but there was something behind them.
The man spoke, his tone calm and natural.
"Good. You're awake."
Zareth's gaze shifted toward the man standing before him.
"Where am I?" he asked again, more firmly this time.
The white-haired man didn't hesitate.
"Welcome to the headquarters."
"This is the Byakuren Compound."
"And you are safe here with us," the boy answered.
After a brief pause, the white-haired man spoke, his voice quiet but firm.
"Tsukishiro Renji," he said. "I'm responsible for training the swordsmen and maintaining discipline."
He glanced at the boy. "This is Amano Ren."
Amano stepped forward and nodded to Zareth before speaking.
"I'm one of the student swordsmen here in the Byakuren Compound."
Amano added,
"I hope you'll be friendly… and maybe become one of us."
Zareth tilted his head to the side, a hint of curiosity crossing his face.
"One of us?" he asked quietly.
Amano gave a small smile before answering.
"Yeah one of us."
Zareth's brows furrowed slightly.
"Meaning?"
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Then Tsukishiro Renji spoke.
"We are swordsmen of the Byakuren
Compound."
His calm eyes remained fixed on Zareth.
"We hunt the creatures beyond the boundary."
Zareth narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Creatures?"
Amano's expression stiffened.
"They're called Demons," he said quietly. "But not all of them are the same."
"Every demon has its own rank," Amano explained. "And each rank possesses different abilities and is far stronger than an ordinary demon."
"And," he added, his expression turning serious, "Shinma Kurotsuki is our greatest enemy the God of Demons."
Then he looked toward Renji.
"Right, Big Bro Renji? Zareth can join us, can't he?"
A quiet chuckle escaped Renji's lips as he glanced at Amano.
"Maybe," he said calmly. "But only once Zareth has recovered and decides for himself whether he wants to join the Byakuren Compound."
Amano step closer to the side of the bed where zareth is sitting.
"Well zareth I think Amano found his first friend."
A faint sigh escaped Renji before he looked back at Zareth.
"Amano is my younger brother," he explained. "He's been here since he was a child."
Amano crossed his arms lightly, clearly annoyed by the teasing.
"You make it sound like I can't talk to people."
Renji raised a brow slightly.
"Can you?"
Amano opened his mouth—
But stop.
Zareth watched the two of them quietly before a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"So he really doesn't have friends."
Amano's eyes widened slightly.
"Hey!"
For the first time since waking up, the atmosphere in the room felt lighter.
Even Renji seemed slightly more relaxed.
Zareth giggled lightly, a faint grin forming on his face.
"Don't worry, Amano," he said. "We can be friends."
Amano blinked in surprise for a moment before quickly looking away.
But the slight redness creeping onto his face said otherwise.
Renji let out another quiet laugh.
"Seems he likes you already," he said calmly.
Then.
Three knocks echoed from the door, breaking the laughter inside the room.
The atmosphere shifted almost instantly.
Amano straightened slightly, the embarrassment on his face fading.
Renji's expression returned to its usual calm composure.
"Come in," he said.
The sliding door slowly opened.
A swordsman stepped inside.
Tall and lean, with sharp eyes that immediately landed on Zareth. His dark haori carried faint silver patterns along the sleeves, subtle but distinct enough to separate him from the others.
He bowed his head slightly toward
"Renji."
His voice was low and respectful.
"The Pillars are gathering."
Zareth stood up and looked around the room more carefully.
"The Pillars?" he asked curiously.
Amano and Renji looked at Zareth before beginning to explain.
"The Pillars are the strongest swordsmen in the Byakuren Compound," Amano said. "Only eight people hold that title."
Renji gave a small nod.
"They stand above the other
swordsmen," he added calmly. "Each Pillar possesses extraordinary skill, experience, and strength."
Amano crossed his arms lightly.
"They're basically monsters with swords."
Zareth's jaw clenched slightly.
"Wait are there actually monsters here? Demons?" he asked.
A brief silence filled the room.
Amano's playful expression faded almost immediately.
Renji answered first.
"Yes."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
No hesitation.
Zareth stared at him, searching for even the slightest sign of a joke.
There was none.
Amano stepped closer to the window, his gaze drifting outside toward the quiet grounds of the
Byakuren Compound.
"Most people never see them," he said quietly. "And if they do."
He paused.
"they usually don't survive long enough to talk about it."
The room suddenly felt colder.
Zareth lowered his gaze slightly, his thoughts beginning to race.
A surge of adrenaline rushed through his body, and a faint translucent screen suddenly appeared in his sight.
Zareth stepped back immediately, his movements quick and tense as he searched their faces for any sign of a joke.
But there was nothing.
[System]
Greetings, Zareth Ashveil.
Then a katana appeared in front of him. Without hesitation, Zareth grabbed the blade and dashed toward Amano and Renji.
The room froze.
A surge of instinct rushed through his body.
His grip tightened around the blade.
Zareth dashed forward, the wooden floor cracking lightly beneath his step as he rushed straight toward Amano and Renji.
They both dashed back, narrowly dodging the blade.
Amano stared at Zareth with a worried expression.
The blades clashed as Renji's katana blocked Zareth's attack. His expression was a mixture of fury and concern.
[SYSTEM STATUS]
Host: Zareth Ashveil
Status: Active
Classification:
Shinma Vessel
Bloodline:
Ashveil Core (Awakened)
Level: 0
Core Attributes:
Strength: 0
Perception: 0
Agility: 0
Speed: 0
Bravery: 0
Intelligence: 0
Charm: 0
"Zareth!"
Amano cried out, his voice filled with worry.
"Please stop! We'll explain everything!"
The commotion abruptly halted when several swordsmen came rushing into the room.
Some immediately unsheathed their blades, ready to defend themselves.
Others stood frozen not in fear, but in shock at what they were seeing.
"Pillars lower your blades. He is not our enemy."
Renji's voice rang through the room with both command and authority.
But then his younger brother stepped beside Zareth, a worried expression on his face.
Amano's hands trembled slightly as he spoke, his voice unsteady with nervousness.
"Please… stop. Don't fight."
He turned toward the Pillars, his eyes filled with desperation.
"He's my friend. Zareth is one of us… so please, put your blades down."
Zareth's heart raced as he hesitated to lower the katana he was using.
Then.
A loud ringing suddenly exploded inside his ears.
His eyes widened.
Within seconds, the sound became unbearable.
Zareth dropped to one knee, gripping his head tightly as he covered his ears.
"Ghh!"
Suddenly.
A sharp pain shot through his head like needles piercing his mind.
Flashbacks and fragments of memories appeared, but they were unclear.
Memories flashed every time his eyes blinked.
Then suddenly Shinma's face appeared in his mind, making Zareth nearly shout the name of the God of Demons.
"SHINMA."