Chapter 23: The First Kill

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The First Kill It began with a question. Not from the system. Not from a god. But from Akari. "Who was the first person you killed, Kai?" He didn’t answer. So she drew her sword, touched it to the earth, and invoked a memory seal. [System Alert: Memory Trial Initiated by Divine Hunter Akari Morimoto] Subject: Kai Veyron Focus: First Confirmed Kill Memory Lock Override: Activated This memory will be shared with all nearby witnesses. The air around them shimmered. Yulia gasped. Elira backed up, hand to her chest. Lira’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t interrupt. Even Virela... blinked. Once. And then the world bent— And they were no longer in the forest. They stood on a battlefield. Old. Familiar. Burned into Kai’s bones. It wasn’t in this world. It was Earth. The street was littered with overturned cars, shattered glass, and fire. Kai stood at the center, younger, blood on his hands. His eyes were wide. His face pale. And before him — a man in a mask, bleeding out. "I didn’t mean to kill him," Kai said quietly, voice overlaying the scene like narration. "I just wanted him to stop hurting my sister." The memory-version of Kai was screaming something no one could hear. Swinging a metal pipe. Again. And again. Until the man stopped moving. [Memory Confirmed: Lethal Strike – Blunt Force Trauma] Identity of Target: Unknown Circumstances: Self-defense Emotional State: Desperation / Guilt / Panic Moral Alignment: Gray The vision faded. They returned to the present. Silence reigned. Until Elira whispered, "You... killed someone before you ever came here." Kai didn’t speak. Akari stepped forward. "And that’s why I was summoned. Because you’re not just the Hero. You’re the Catalyst. A soul already marked before you ever reached this world." Kai looked up at her. "So what? Because I fought back when I was a scared kid, I’m doomed?" "No," Akari said softly. "But it means you’ve always had it in you." [System Update: Party Trust Shifted] Elira: Conflicted Yulia: Guarded Lira: Watchful Virela: Intrigued Akari: 47% convinced you’re not a threat New Stat Unlocked: Blood Echo Trait: Your past lives leave a scar on your soul Bonus: +10% Resistance to Fear Penalty: Some people will never trust you again "I don’t regret protecting my sister," Kai said quietly. "But you regret what it made you," Akari replied. He looked her in the eye. And this time, didn’t blink. "Every day." Later that night, the fire was silent again. Elira didn’t sit next to him. Yulia kept reading her spellbook — but upside-down. Lira did nothing different... except polish a blade that wasn’t dirty. And Virela? She finally smiled like she meant it. "Well," she said softly, "at least now we know the gods didn’t choose a saint." Kai sat alone near the edge of camp, staring at the stars. He hated that he could still see the man’s face. Even though he’d never known his name. Akari sat across from him. Far enough not to startle. Close enough to matter. "I believe you didn’t want to kill him," she said. "But you still did." Kai didn’t respond. She stood. "You’ve got two days left. Convince me you won’t kill again." Then paused. "And pray you don’t have to prove it." Somewhere on a blood-drenched battlefield far from camp... A different version of Kai stood — eyes glowing with power, voice cold, sword dripping with divine ichor. Hana watched from the ridge above, shaking her head. "If you won’t become him willingly," she whispered, "then I’ll make sure you have no other choice."