{I finally have a body...}
An injured boy lay flat on the dirt ground in the middle of a forest, opening his eyes to stare up through the thick leaves above.
{But where am I?}
{Where was it? Who was she? And... who am I?}
{I don't remember much.}
He pushed his palms against the ground, shaking dust from his arms as he looked around at the trees. He walked over to the edge of a running stream and bent down over the clear water to check his reflection.
Dark brown eyes stared back under a mop of pitch-black hair. Nothing stood out about his face.
{So this is the body. It is about the age of five, and I am an orphan that lives at an orphanage not so far from here.}
He sat back on his heels. His mind had stayed connected to this child's frame for about five years without forcing its way in. It was not a stolen body.
His will and consciousness needed more time to gain full control. The body and mind were still too young and weak to handle the newly formed soul and all its information.
{I am called Vrren, but I would need another name in the future... Let's see, L... Y... and Nx... Lynx. It matches both of our names.}
A group of kids sprinted out from the tree line, kicking up dry leaves as they ran up to him. "Vrren, what are you doing out there!"
They caught sight of the scrapes and dark bruises on his skin, grabbing his shoulders to pull him back toward the orphanage.
A caretaker wrapped a cloth strip tight over Vrren's arm, tying the end off and patting his knee. "And... done! Be careful from now on, okay?"
Vrren rubbed the back of his neck, staring down at the floor. "Okay, I will."
...
A few days passed.
Four kids sat together in a circle on the grass: Vrren, Dip, Karti, and Reilly.
Dip leaned forward on his knees, glancing around at the others. "Have you heard about the tournament that is going to take place maybe in thirteen years or so?"
Karti scratched the back of his neck, tilting his head up. "No, why? What is it about?"
Dip threw his hands up in disbelief. "You really haven't heard of it?" He puffed out his chest, hitting his fist against his open palm. "People will fight each other to see who is the strongest! I will participate in it too!"
Vrren kept his face completely still. "What do they get if they win?"
Dip shrugged his shoulders, grinning wide. "I don't know, but maybe they will take the winners to work as heroes and save people!"
Reilly reached over and smacked Dip across the shoulder. "Many strong people will fight, but only a few will be selected. It is so we can work for their sects, not to be heroes."
Karti jumped onto his feet, raising his fists in the air. "I will participate too then!"
Reilly swiped her hand at Karti's arm, knocking his hands back down. "Of course all of us will, so we can work together. We just need to put up a good fight so they pick all of us."
She turned toward Vrren. "What do you say, our leader, Vrren?"
Vrren gave a single firm nod. "Let's train hard!"
{After that I will go by Lynx, or perhaps Lynx Vrren.}
...
A few days later.
Karti and Reilly stood in the center of the yard, sparring back and forth. They rushed at each other. Karti saw an opening in her guard, shoved Reilly off balance, and started throwing rapid punches directly into her body and head.
Tears welled up in Reilly's eyes as she pulled her arms up over her face. "Stop it, Karti!"
Karti dropped his hands, wiping sweat off his brow. "What? You told me not to hold back! Why are you being a crybab—"
Dip drove his foot straight into Karti's ribs before he could finish the word, sending him stumbling across the dirt.
Dip stepped forward with clenched fists, his eyes filled with anger. "What are you doing? This is stupid."
Karti scrambled back onto his feet, putting his hands up in a guard. "Oh yeah? Then fight me instead like a man."
Dip raised his fists. Karti charged in without wasting a second, but Dip caught him by the collar and pulled his fist back.
Karti smiled, digging his palm into the dirt to hurl a handful of sand right into Dip's eyes. Dip lost his grip and stumbled back blind while Karti drove a punch straight into his belly with everything he had.
Dip dropped onto his knees, gasping for air while holding his stomach. "This is cheating! You said fight like a man!"
Karti kicked Dip hard in the side, sending him flat onto the ground. "A man does whatever it takes to win."
Vrren stepped up right behind Karti, his expression cold and still. "If you want a fight, then fight me."
Karti spun around to throw a wild punch, but Vrren had already moved inside his reach and struck the back of his neck.
Karti stumbled back, scooping another handful of sand into his palm. He jumped straight at Vrren, who stared at him with cold eyes.
Karti threw the sand into Vrren's face, forcing his eyes shut. As Karti ducked behind him to strike, Vrren turned on his heel and landed a sharp punch right on Karti's jaw.
Karti backed off, holding his jaw with wide eyes. "H—how did you know I was behind you!?"
Vrren wiped his eyes with his sleeve, blinking as he cleared the grit. "You see, I have these things called ears, so I can hear you running around."
Karti flew into a rage, charging head-on with a barrage of wild punches.
A sharp spike pierced Lynx inside his head as his Negative Will seized full control of his limbs. Bright crimson blood sprayed across the dirt as Vrren clamped his hand onto Karti's cheek and violently tore away a chunk of flesh the size of a spoon's head, dark droplets dripping down from his fingers.
Vrren's eyes went wide with shock as he opened his hand and threw the piece of flesh away. {What am I doing?}
Karti realized what had happened, holding his face in shock while blood leaked through his fingers before running back to the elders in tears.
Vrren was heavily punished for it, and Karti hated him ever since.
...
As the years passed, they made new friends, and Vrren's group grew vastly.
Vrren was twelve years old now, leading a group of at least seventy members.
One of his top members, a boy named Sun, had an idea. He told everyone to gather in the clearing. Not everyone could make it, but at least thirty members were present.
Vrren looked at him calmly, keeping his voice gentle. "So what is your idea?"
Sun stepped out in front of the others, glaring at Vrren. "Listen. You don't have parents, and you act soft to be a hero going with Dip's ideas."
Vrren shifted his weight, keeping his eyes steady. "What are you getting at?"
Sun pointed his finger directly at Vrren. "I'm taking leadership from you today, and you will see how easily they leave you. You are not suited to be a leader."
Vrren was confident in his members. He had spent years training them kindly, never acting unjust or unreasonable. He knew Sun would fail.
Sun turned toward the crowd. "Pick a side. Choose who will be a better leader, and who you wish to fight beside."
One by one, every single kid walked over to Sun's side.
Vrren's face stayed calm, but inside, his heart completely shattered.
To prove their new loyalty, they picked up rocks, stones, and bricks, throwing them right at Vrren. A jagged stone hit him squarely on the forehead, cutting the skin open so thick red blood dripped down his temple and past his eye.
His glare remained cold as the blood dripped down his face. He slowly walked toward Sun, picking up speed the closer he got.
Vrren punched Sun so hard that he collapsed onto the ground.
Sun pointed in panic, scrambling backward on the dirt. "Get him!"
Vrren turned his gaze to the crowd, his voice steady. "If you want to, then go ahead. I don't hold anything against you. My only enemy is him."
Nobody moved. Vrren turned around and walked away.
When he was finally out of sight behind the trees, his eyes filled with tears.
Nobody was there for him. He trained alone out in nature.
Dip and the others who hadn't attended had been adopted by families far away, and Dip had already created his own new team.
The negativity grew worse as time went on, rapidly increasing his Negative Will.
...
Then he met Lif, a boy who had stolen from a shop and was being punished brutally.
Vrren pulled a cloth mask over his face, creating a distraction by throwing a stone inside the shop. While the owner looked away, Vrren grabbed Lif and ran toward the forest.
Vrren slid the mask down once they stopped in a quiet spot. "You alright?"
Lif replied by nodding.
Vrren pointed a finger at the boy's chest. "Don't steal from others again. It's not just wrong, but also not what your soul wants. It wants greatness, so don't do things that displease who you are, unless it's truly necessary."
Lif wiped his nose with his sleeve. "I got it. Thanks, my name is Lif."
Vrren adjusted his hood. "I'm Lynx, or just call me Vrren for now."
Lif nodded. "Okay, Vrren."
Vrren told him about the tournament, and they started training together.
...
A few months later.
Vrren went looking for Lif to tell him about his birthday. Instead, he saw Lif speaking to Sun in an alleyway. Vrren blended into the shadows near the wall and listened.
Sun crossed his arms against the alley wall. "Did you figure out what type of martial arts he uses yet?"
Lif looked down at the dirt. "He has only taught me movements because his style is hard to master."
Sun grabbed Lif by his shirt collar. "Alright, keep a close eye. If you get any openings, beat him up badly. Break his bones so he has no way to train or dream about fighting again."
Lif held out his palm. "Don't worry. As long as you give me the money, I will do whatever it takes. I'll get every drop of information out of him so you can beat him."
Vrren moved away on his own without making a sound.
He went to a faraway place and left a note thanking his caretakers at the orphanage.
The negativity was getting too vast. The isolation, the caretakers punishing him, the continuous betrayal, the overthinking, and his endless essential pain weighed on him. But he didn't give in.
{As long as a destination exists, there will always be a path leading there.}
...
At the age of fourteen, he finally gained full awareness of his soul. He started training harder alone so he could stand up against everyone in the tournament, which would occur in four years.
He learned a few things about his own body. There was a strange pain growing inside of his essence that was affecting him, damaging him constantly physically, emotionally, and mentally. Although it left no physical marks, he could feel it, and it was constantly growing.
...
About four years later.
Lynx stepped out from the mouth of the cave, carrying a heavy cloth pack over his shoulder. The four years of brutal, solitary conditioning had worn down his frame and altered his appearance. His shoulders had broadened with thick, lean muscle, and long strands of unkempt black hair fell messy over his collar. A thick layer of rough beard stubble shadowed his jaw and chin. Pale lines of scars crossed his knuckles and wrists, testifying to years of relentless physical abuse against stone and nature.
Lynx raised his head, staring straight up at the open sky. "Today's the day."
He adjusted his grip on the pack and set his boots along the worn trail. "It's time to return to the city."