A Record of Ash & Ruin: The Grieving Lands - Chapter 33Book 3: : The Al-Lazar Branch

In a world ruled by false gods, two souls must rise beyond death to shatter divinity itself.When Raphaeldor and Leonatus awaken in the mystical world of Elyndra, they are not ordinary men—they are reincarnated souls, chosen by a forgotten prophecy to challenge the divine order. In this realm where aura and mana shape the very fabric of life, power is worshipped and truth is buried beneath centuries of myth.Guided only by a mysterious being known as the Pathmaker, the two must walk a perilous path of growth, conflict, and awakening. As they ascend through the ranks of strength and unravel the mysteries of Elyndra, they discover a harrowing truth: the so-called gods are nothing more than mortals who transcended and seized divinity for themselves, bending the world to their will.With divine thrones looming and the fate of creation in the balance, Raphaeldor and Leonatus must decide whether to accept the lies that shaped the world—or to defy the heavens, expose the deception, and uncover the will of the true God who lies beyond the veil of eternity.The journey of the transcendent begins.The odyssey of truth awaits.

In my previous life, I was merely a supporting character, highlighting Damon’s deep love for another woman.Tragically, my story unfolded with devastating consequences, leaving my family in ruins and my life shattered.Upon my rebirth, I chose to adopt a carefree attitude, ignoring the situation and waiting for Damon to ask for a divorce. But something peculiar happened. The man who used to disappear for weeks suddenly started showing up every few days.“Do you think there will come a time when you’ll want me to disappear?” I queried.“Do not indulge in fantasies.” he retorted,“We’ll continue to torment each other until the end.” I sighed, as a reincarnated soul, confident that his destined soulmate would soon cross his path.Finally, he encountered her, and I believed freedom was within my grasp. Yet, he quietly…

[A soul forsaken by the Gods and a body on the verge of death - The Darklord of the Endless Abyss has noticed your existence and is offering you a contract. Will you accept?]As he lay on unfamiliar land, his body covered in wounds and blood, Levi heard the voice of providence that he had craved for years.In a magnificent and mutated future, the advancement of technology and space exploration has opened new paths unknown to humanity. Being the curious creatures they are, and with hopes of saving the dying Earth suffering from resource depletion, humans began to explore these unknown lands.It was there that they discovered the treasures of the otherworld - artifacts and magical items that defied all scientific knowledge. But along with these treasures, humans also encountered dangerous and vicious monsters capable of tearing them apart with a flick of their fingers.However, humans were persistent. The treasures of the otherworld were too enticing to ignore. They struggled against the odds and found a way to fight these monsters by making contracts with the gods.The gods of the unknown lands bestowed extraordinary powers upon humans in exchange for the promise of extinguishing all the monsters. But not everyone was so fortunate, like Levi, who failed to pique the interest of any gods, and became one of the Forsaken.The Gods had forsaken him, so Levi decided to forsake the world - he made a contract with the Demon King himself!

“Look at him,” someone snickered from a few rows over. “Smells like he sleeps in a dumpster.”“Probably does,” another voice added, louder this time. Nox just stared at his textbook, the words blurring. He had heard it all before.Then, Mark, one of the main reasons his life was a living hell, swaggered past his desk. Mark always had a smirk on his face. “Oops,” he said, not even trying to sound accidental, as a full cup of bright orange juice tipped over, splashing all down the front of Nox's already ruined shirt. The cold liquid soaked through instantly. Laughter erupted around the room. It was loud, clear, and mocking. Nox slowly looked up. His eyes landed on Ms. Joy, who was watching the whole thing. She had seen Mark deliberately pour the juice on him. He raised his hand, a small, tired gesture. “Ms. Joy,” he said, his voice flat. “He just poured juice on me. Are you just going to ignore it? Again?.” Ms. Joy looked at him, then at Mark, who was now theatrically wiping his hands. A small smile played on her lips. Then she chuckled. Just a little airy laugh.“Oh, Nox, don't be so dramatic. Boys will be boys, right Mark?” Mark puffed out his chest. “Yeah, Ms. Joy. He's just sensitive.” The class laughed even harder at that. Ms. Joy joined in, her laughter ringing out with theirs. Hearing them all, hearing her laugh, something in him finally snapped. It wasn't a loud break, more like a quiet, final click. He realized it then, with a cold, hard clarity. No one was coming to save him. No teachers, no police, no parents he never had. No one cared. If he wanted this to stop, he would have to be the one to stop it. He was the only one who could.His face remained blank, but his mind was suddenly very clear. He reached down slowly, his hand going into his worn-out school bag. The laughter died down a little as a few students noticed his deliberate movement, a strange stillness about him. He pulled out a gun.The classroom went silent. Utterly, completely silent. Mark's smirk vanished, replaced by wide, terrified eyes. Even Ms. Joy stopped laughing, her face paling. “What… Nox, what are you doing?” she stammered, her voice suddenly shaky. He didn't answer. He looked around at their faces, one by one. Fear. He saw fear now. Good. He was ready. He was going to make them all pay. He was going to end it, all of it.Just as he was about to raise the gun properly, a bright blue screen appeared right in front of his face. It was translucent, and only he seemed to see it. [Congratulations! You have met the requirements!] [1st Player Chosen!] [You have won the System!]