Through The Fractured Lens

Lucian

I bolt to the site of the battle—thirsty for blood.

Nearly tripping over the bodies that piled the once lively streets, I swing my body upwards and onto the roof of the building nearby.

Finally, there I saw it.

General Iron Hand and the enemy… a Vanguard, if I heard correctly.

Clash.

They we're clashing, movements hard to even keep track of. Iron Hand's nickname wasn't for nothing. He only used his fists, without any weapons and minorly imbued.

His raw physical strength easily triumphed anybody in this world, surely.

Clash—clank.

The general had managed to land a few critical blows to the Vanguard's core, shattering pieces of the titan's armor of flames.

However he didn't achieve this without injury—blood trickled down his arms and legs.

Despite his strength, it was clear he wouldn't succeed here. 

While I was still a soldier, I was a valuable asset. I was stronger than any normal recruit that could've been thrown out as meat shields.

I dashed forward as I drew my blade, coating it with spiked, jagged layers of pure spirit energy.

My strike collided with the Vanguard, shredding through his armor.

He let out a groan as he swung to the side and erupted a wave of fire, forcing me to step back and bring myself in the air to avoid the initial impact.

While I had drew blood, the strike I had done only inflicted minor damage—and that was my best advantage.

'Shit.'

'Come on Lucian, think.'

However, before I could think of my next action, the General was already back in the fight.

He swung his leg around, colliding into the chest of the Vanguard through a weak point he had created by ripping through his armor.

"General! He reinforced—" I shouted, unable to finish.

The heartless Vanguard managed to push out a smile, turning back to the General.

The Generals legs seemed to tremble before him, afraid. Fire wrapped around the Vanguard's clenched fist, as he dug into the chest of the General.

He had baited him to attack in what appeared as a weak point.

However, he had reinforced it beforehand, all for the goal of provoking the hit.

I watched in horror as the Vanguard's flaming fist tore through the General's chest. The sickening crunch of bone and sizzle of burning flesh filled the air.

Iron Hand's eyes went wide with shock, before falling down to the floor.

His lifeless body collapsed to the floor, as the drizzle of rain turned into a downpour. 

As the blood streamed from his body, I flashed to the moment of Dante's lifeless body laying on the floor, expressionless, once again.

Despite this, I was knocked out of my thoughts as my chest was hammered by the Vanguard.

I managed to coat myself with a thin shield just before impact, hindering the overall damage. The swing was more powerful than anything I've ever felt, as I whistled through the air before slamming into the side of the building.

Coughing up blood, I clenched my chest. I was battered and bruised, and cut. Blood painted my chest and entire body as the rain poured, streaming down my body.

I clench my blade, rushing spirit energy through, dashing forward. I come up underneath the Vanguard, before feinting my attack and dashing to the right. I moved all the spirit energy inside the blade into just the tip, as it rips through the skin on his back.

The Vanguard wept in pain after the attack, clearly distraught.

The cry of pain was short-lived. His eyes locked onto mine, as with inhuman speed, he spun around, his flaming fist aimed directly at my face.

I barely managed to duck, feeling the scorching heat singe my hair. The building behind me caught the impact—exploding into rubble and ash that stretched throughout the village.

Stumbling backwards, my mind was racing on what to do next. He was too powerful.

"You're different from the others," the Vanguard growled, his voice like gravel being crushed. "But different isn't enough."

He advanced forward, his steps leaving a smoldering footprint in the rain-soaked ground.

Leaping up into the air, he sent his body downwards, wrapping energy around him like a spiraling tornado slamming into the ground. I quickly rushed a burst of energy to my lower my body to shield it and withstand the impact that couldn't be dodged, however I couldn't get away that easily. As I took a step back, slashes running up my legs began to pour blood.

The Vanguard took a second to admire me, it seemed. "Those eyes speak years beyond your own."

"What's your secret?"

I dismissed his question, biting my lip—how could I even answer that, anyway?

Once again, I picked up my sword, preparing to rush forward for another strike. However, as I began moving, the Vanguard faded into the shadows. He then reappeared, moments later, behind me, as the flame around his hands seemed to fade away into nothing.

Suddenly, the arm holding my blade seemed empty as I looked over to it. Cuts started to line around near my elbow at immense pace, until my arm lost all sense, falling to the ground.

I screamed in agony as I watched my arm tumble onto the ground.

Was this how my enemies felt?

At that moment, I felt helpless. There was nothing I could do. Not only had I been badly wounded already—I lost one of my arms.

The Vanguard prepared to strike once more, as I rushed over to grab the blade that had flung off to the side. I quickly positioned myself and parried the strike and the ones following that.

Relentless assaults continued, each blow being more unpredictable than the last. My one-armed defense was faltering, my reactions slowing as blood loss and exhaustion began to take their toll.

The world around me began to slowly blur, the only figure I could make out was the Vanguard constantly hurling it's massive body at me.

With a thunderous roar, the Vanguard unleashed a torrent of flame that engulfed everything in it's path. I desperately tried to dodge, but my weakened body seemed to almost betray me. The inferno consumed me, searing my flesh and scorching my lungs slowly.

I let out a scream as I tumbled back and slumped against the side of a burning building, unable to move anymore.

Shit—what do I do here?

There was nothing I could do, in truth.

The Vanguard approached me slowly before he stopped just in front of me, staring down at me intently, like he was analyzing me.

"Maybe in other life, boy."

As his words sunk into my chest, he lifted up his arm. Fire began dancing around his hand, circulating and growing in size by the second. After just a moment, a giant beam of fire was constantly rotating around his arm.

And not even a second later, he released it. The fire blasted through my chest, incinerating my entire body without even a second to react.

So… this is how my second life ends.

At least now, I can finally rest.

My eyes began to flicker, until they closed for the last time—everything went black.

Suddenly, just as before, a void of black appeared around me as I floated endlessly as my mind began to go insane.

But just as before, there was a bright white light.

I felt tethered to it, regardless of whatever I thought, I was being dragged there once again.

As the light began to grow bigger, I noticed shards of glass hovering the space around me. They began to grow bigger, showcasing memories of my life.

Not my first life, but the life I had just lived—almost every major moment.

From when I had to carry my drunk father back to the house and throw him on the couch before he embarrassed himself, to where I unlocked spirit manipulation for the first time.

Moments flashed around as the white light began to grow bigger, until… it fully enveloped me. Nothing around me made sense, I couldn't comprehend where I was.

Despite that—I heard mumbling.

"A healthy baby boy! Congratulations! Have you guys decided on a name yet for the boy?"

"Yes we have! It's—Lucian."