At the summit of the mountain, where night meets complete darkness, Arthur sat alone at the edge of the abyss. The cold air wrapped around his body, but the pain tearing at his heart was more intense than any chill. He gazed into the dark sky, where the moon seemed like a mirror to his endless suffering. He screamed at the top of his lungs, directing his words to the void that answered nothing:
"Why? Why always me? No family, no mother, no peaceful life, only battles I don't want to fight, betrayals I can't escape. Is this life? Must I be the strongest fighter in the world, while I'm powerless to save those I love?"
Tears fell onto the cold ground as his heart twisted in sorrow. His beloved, his only sister, was on the brink of death. He had nothing left to lose. A strong warrior, yet powerless before a fate threatening to take his last remaining family member.
"Why? Why can't I save her? Is the power I possess just a burden?" he whispered as he cried, pounding the ground with his fists, almost screaming.
In that moment, when he was about to lose all hope, a strange shadow appeared before him, a man standing there in complete stillness, as if time itself had frozen. His name was Daniel, and he seemed like someone from another world.
Arthur jumped up quickly, trying to wipe away his tears, taking a defensive stance and pointing at the stranger with a sharp word:
"Who are you? How did you get here? How did you enter without me noticing?"
Daniel smiled faintly and spoke in a calm tone, though it held something strange, almost wise:
"Don't rush with the questions. You must first understand why I'm here. My name is Daniel, and I'm tasked with protecting the stability of the planets in the Fifth Universe. There's a planet on the verge of destruction due to ongoing wars between humans, beasts, and demons. We've heard a lot about the strongest fighter in this world, which is why I've come looking for you."
Arthur looked at this man in astonishment, but he did not retreat, keeping his sharp eyes fixed on him, suspicious of the intentions of this mysterious visitor.
"I need your help, Arthur," Daniel continued seriously, "but I didn't expect to find you in this state. I expected more than just a warrior crying in the mountains."
Arthur's body stiffened, anger boiling within him. He had always been seen as the invincible hero, and now he was standing before someone telling him about a weakness no one had expected.
"How can I help you when I can't even save those close to me? There's nothing in my life worth helping for!" Arthur said angrily, looking at the sky as if it had betrayed him.
Daniel responded in a calm tone, but there was a firm quality to his voice: "Don't worry about that. I can heal your sister, but you must help me with my mission first."
Daniel's words hit Arthur like a thunderbolt. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. "What?" he whispered, "Can you really save her?"
Daniel answered firmly: "Yes, but it won't be free. You'll have to help me bring peace to the planet on the verge of collapse."
Moments of silence passed, and as Arthur wrestled with himself, he felt a strange sensation – hope, though it was lost within him. "And what about me? Can I do anything?" he whispered in pain. "I'll do anything to save her, just for her."
Daniel looked at him and said calmly: "Alright, then let's go. I'll help you, but you must help me bring peace there."
Arthur stood with difficulty, feeling a strange power seep into his heart. There was no other choice. This was the only opportunity that might change his fate.
"Let's go then," he said, looking up at the sky, as if preparing for a new battle.
Daniel and Arthur entered Zila's room, where she was very ill. The room was small and dim, and the air was heavy with the sickness that had gripped her. Zila, Arthur's sister, was lying in bed, her eyes half-closed, feeling extreme fatigue. Her face was pale, and her frail body was a clear sign of a long-term illness. She no longer seemed like the lively girl Arthur remembered, but rather a sickly creature wasting away day by day.
Daniel approached Zila's bed but paused for a moment, staring at her intently, as if trying to understand what couldn't be seen. There was a look of confusion in his eyes, and it seemed like he was weighing his options carefully, almost ready to break his silence.
Moments of silence passed, then Daniel lifted his gaze to Arthur, who was watching what was happening with obvious concern. Arthur's eyes were filled with sorrow, as if his last hope in life was slipping away before him. Finally, Arthur spoke in a low voice, his words almost touching sorrow: "Is it true, even you, Daniel, can't save her?"
The pain in Arthur's words was heavy. Arthur had lost much in his life, but what he saw before him seemed worse than any previous loss. Losing his sister was like destroying the last shred of hope he had left.
Daniel felt a silent sadness, but he composed himself and answered firmly: "Who told you I can't save her? There's a great adventure awaiting us. It might spoil some of my plans, but I can heal her." Daniel's tone was calm, but his eyes held a hint of tension. It wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Arthur looked at him with eyes bursting with pain, then quickly responded without thinking: "I don't care what your plans are! Just save her, I'll do anything you ask!" His voice was filled with determination, and it was clear he was willing to do anything, even if it meant sacrificing everything.
Daniel smiled a calm smile and sighed: "Alright, since I must change some of my plans, let me explain the truth of the matter. Your sister's illness is not a normal sickness. It's a curse." He gestured toward Zila: "A curse that slowly eats away at her soul, day by day, until it is completely empty. Fifty-five percent of her soul has already been destroyed. If we leave things as they are, the end will be inevitable. But I can stop it, though there is a risk."
Daniel's words weighed like stones on Arthur's heart, his breath quickening in his chest as he tried to understand every word Daniel had said. "Is there hope? Is there a solution?" Arthur asked, his eyes filled with tears.
Daniel closed his eyes for a moment, then replied in a quiet voice: "Yes, there is only one solution. The solution is for you to give up a part of your soul. I will transfer part of your soul to hers, to restore her health. But there is a great risk: you will fall into a deep coma that may last twenty years. During this period, I will help you recover your soul, but this is not an easy task." Daniel looked at Arthur with piercing eyes, waiting for his reaction.
Arthur remained silent for a moment, as if words failed to express what was going on in his heart. Then he looked at Daniel with eyes filled with tears and said: "Does that mean I'll live in a coma for all this time?"
Daniel nodded and said: "Yes, but that doesn't mean you'll sacrifice your life. You will remain alive, but you will be in a long-term coma. While you're in the coma, I will help you regain your strength." His words held a sense of reassurance, but the truth was harsh enough to make Arthur feel bitterness.
"How will I be able to help you with your mission while I'm in a coma?" Arthur asked, trying to find another solution.
Daniel smiled and spoke with confidence: "Don't worry. The alternative solution is to transfer your consciousness to another body in another world. You will start life anew, and train from scratch. You'll have the chance to rediscover yourself." His voice was calm, but it carried with it great strength and the ability to convince others.
Arthur was in shock, and questions flooded his mind rapidly. "Can you really transfer my consciousness?"
Daniel answered affirmatively: "Yes, it's my specialty. I deal with souls, and I can do it easily."
Arthur then looked at him and asked:
"But what about my dignity?" he asked softly, as if the question was not just about the current situation, but about his entire life.
Daniel did not seem surprised; he nodded in understanding and said quietly: "I understand what you mean. But this offer is not as easy as it may seem. We are talking about your life and the life of those you love, and in such circumstances, the hardest choice may be the most necessary."
Arthur weighed his words, his mind boiling with many questions. He knew that sacrificing for his sister's life was the right thing to do, but what about himself? What about his future? And his life that might be stolen from him forever?
"Is there any other way?" he said, looking at Zila, lying on the bed, seeming to be in continuous torment. The pain in his heart grew each time he saw her condition.
Daniel responded firmly: "No. If you want to save her, you must make this decision now. Time is running out. The curse will take her soul completely soon if we don't act quickly."
The words weighed like stones on Arthur's heart. He saw in his eyes the only glimmer of hope: one chance to save his sister. But the price was too high.
"You know I won't hesitate to save her." Arthur said finally, looking at Daniel with eyes filled with determination. "I won't let her die."
Daniel smiled in relief, as if hee