The Dagger Souls

Preface: 

"In a hunt, until the final breath is drawn, who is the hunter and who is the prey? Who is the villain and who is the hero? The answer remains an enigma.

They preach to us about living a righteous life. Yet, rarely does anyone dare to admit that kindness is a luxury not everyone can afford. Society, despite being cloaked in the illusion of civilization, is in truth a colossal slaughterhouse. What is the price of survival in such a place? Is it selling one's soul, twisting oneself into something filthier than the deepest mire? We shudder at atrocities, yet we forget that it is the apathy, the callousness, and the ruthless rules of this world that condone—and even force—men to become monsters.

This story is about that hypocritical order. Do not read it if you are seeking flawless heroes. Read it to stare directly into the abyss—a darkness that does not exist in some distant fantasy land, but courses through our very veins every single day."

Note: Please note that while the story, characters, and world-building are entirely human-authored, AI tools were used strictly for language translation. As a result, certain phrasing may occasionally feel artificially generated.

Writer: NBN