The concept of good or bad has always existed.
Most speak of the balance between the two.
But in this world—of heroes and demon kings—the lines are blurred.
Santiaga would know.
He's been on the receiving end of all the bad things life has to offer.
Now, he was going to fight back.
He wasn't going to sit quietly anymore.
Rain poured heavily over the city of Seville.
The moon hung low in the sky, casting pale light over broken concrete and collapsed roofs.
One man stood still beneath the wreckage of what used to be a safehouse.
No—he wasn't standing still.
He was pinned there.
Knives impaled his shoulders, nailing him to the crumbled wall behind him like some discarded portrait.
His name was Santiaga Denero.
And tonight, he had tried something impossible—to kill one of the world's so-called heroes.
He had failed.
"Santiaga... I remember you now. Hehehe…"
A mocking chuckle echoed through the wreckage.
Santiaga dragged his head downward, eyes focusing through the blood and haze.
A tall man in a white suit, with blonde hair slicked back and a pair of shades perched on his nose, stepped into view.
"You're that guy that spilled my boss's drink that night. The one we pranked into fake-loving a girl. Hahaha… Man, that was hilarious."
Santiaga said nothing.
He didn't need to.
He recognized him.
"Jeff…"
The name left his lips like a curse.
He tried to move. Pain screamed through every joint.
The knives held him firm, blood running freely down his arms and ribs.
"I'm a goddamn C-Class Hero, you dumb bastard. Did you really think an ordinary bomb would kill me?"
Jeff's smile widened as he stepped closer.
"Ah, I see it now. This is about that old woman we killed, isn't it? The one who begged like a dog!"
Santiaga frowned as he heard that, making Jeff grin in realization.
"So it was indeed about her. You came for revenge! Arghahahahahaha... I've never heard of something so foolish!"
Jeff's voice and laughter made Santiaga evwn more angry.
'No, how can it all end like this! The bastard is standing there, laughing! He won!' He struggled to pull himself out of the wall, making the knives sink deeper.
"No need to rush to your death." Jeff stretched his hand, a yellow glow appearing over his palm.
"If you want to die so quickly then I'll grant your wish." The man smiled, using his other hand to dust his white suit.
Santiaga immediately felt an invisible hand pressing his throat and he looked up at the man in the eye.
"The boss really made quick work of her. She begged for her life all she wanted as he cut her body to pieces. The way she screamed, the way she bled, it was all so mesmerizing!" Jeff took a breath, remembering the day he watched a man take the life of an innocent woman.
Tears ran down Santiaga's face. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live.
He wanted to survive, to have another chance. The thought of begging Jeff just disgusted him.
He would rather die!
"Enough playing now, goodbye."
With a twist of his hand, Jeff snapped Santiaga's neck from a distance away.
Everywhere immediately went black...
...
"Let me help you."
"...what?"
A whisper came to him in the darkness.
"Together, we'll make them all suffer. We'll make them bleed. Don't you want your revenge?" The voice sounded louder.
"Yes... Yes I do."
"Good." The voice sounded satisfied.
At that moment, Santiaga saw a bright blue light in the darkness flash over him.
He couldn't see his body and was only able to look around.
Looking at the light, he was shocked to see that it was glowing words floating in this black space.
[Your awakening has been completed. You will now become one with Nyvhal.]
[Preparations complete, return from death initiated.]