Chronicles of Soul Gifts

The cold metal of the noose tightened, a grim finality to a life lived without warmth. At sharp 6 AM, the trap door beneath Noir Rivera's feet gave way, plunging him into a struggle against oblivion.

He awoke in an endless void, a realm of darkness that strangely brought him peace. "Am I in hell? Is this my soul?" he mused, untroubled by the emptiness. Time blurred, a meaningless concept to a soul already half-dead. Then, the darkness receded, replaced by a bewildering cinematic view of a new world.

He watched, a silent observer, as empires clashed, monsters emerged from dungeons, and humans wielded 'Soul Gifts'. He saw a boy named Zeno, from Reedling Village, living a seemingly normal life until tragedy struck. Zeno's father, a formidable Advancer, disappeared into the perilous Slime Dungeon, leaving Zeno consumed by rage and grief. He ran to the dungeon, a black fog emanating from him, transforming as he fought. Noir watched, intrigued, as Zeno's fight mirrored his own brutal past. The screen went dark as Zeno, battered and unconscious, was finally overwhelmed.