Where I'm from might sound like a dream to most people, but to me, it could get way too real. Around the year 3030, dragons and other monsters emerged from god knows where, pushing humanity to the brink of extinction. In our darkest hour, the Gods granted humanity a lifeline: divine abilities known as Soul Links. That gift turned the tide. We fought back, reclaimed our world, and drove the monsters across the sea.
But the war? Yeah, that never really ended. We just stopped hearing about it.
Fast-forward a thousand years, to the year 4040. That's where I come in. My name's Soul, I'm eleven, and still stuck in grade school. Most kids never awaken a Soul Link. But for the ones who do, it usually happens between the ages of eight and ten. And me? I'm starting to think I missed my chance.
Which sucks. Because this year might be my last chance to apply to become a Link Maestro.
Soul Links come in three main classes:
Enhancers gain physical boosts through their Soul-bound. Strength, speed, endurance — the works.
Transmuters are flashy types. Their Soul-bound allows them to project elemental energy: fire, lightning, wind, light... basically, the cool stuff you see in action vids.
Then there are the Holsters. Rare. Elusive. Their Soul-bound doesn't enhance or project. Instead, it transforms — into a weapon. But not just any weapon. The kind that adapts to the will of its wielder. A perfect fusion of Enhancer and Transmuter. That versatility makes them dangerous... and mysterious.
Me? I don't even have a Soul Link. At least, not until the day everything changed.
On my way home, I saw a girl getting dragged into a shadowy van. No one else was around. I didn't think. I just ran. I tried to stop it, to fight. I got thrown against the pavement. Hard.
I clapped my hands, desperate. Nothing happened. I clapped again. Still nothing. The world spun. My ribs ached. But then—one final clap.
Lightning cracked. My body surged with power as a weapon formed in my hands—a jagged vajra crackling with electric arcs. It glowed in my grip.
"Hi hi hi, stop the fucking clapping already, you're giving me a headache," Buddha's voice yawned in my head.
I barely had time to process what was happening. One of the kidnappers charged at me.
"Alright, pay attention, newbie. This form is the Lightning Vajra—the core of my being. Sharp, fast, and explosive. You get enhanced reflexes, boosted reaction time, and a zap in every swing. Try not to electrocute yourself."
I raised the vajra by instinct—and lightning exploded forward, launching the guy backward like he'd been hit by a thunderbolt.
Before I could move again, Buddha spoke.
"Alright kid, you're clearly in over your head. Let me take the wheel for a second. Just for demonstration. Don't get too excited."
"Wait, take over? What does that mean—"
My body pulsed, and I felt my grip relax. Suddenly, I was... watching.
Buddha, through me, smirked.
"Shadow Daggers now. This one's about speed and silence. You move faster, hit quicker, and the enemy won't know what sliced them. Perfect for sneak attacks."
My hands shifted the vajra into twin daggers, and my body zipped behind the second kidnapper. A swift slice through his weapon arm dropped him instantly.
Another attacker aimed a gun.
"Hold on, let's cool it down. Ice Spear coming up. Precision mode activated. Slower but deadly. Accuracy and poise. One clean strike."
The daggers morphed into a long, elegant spear of ice. Buddha's form hurled it, the weapon freezing the barrel of the gun before piercing the man's side.
Two more rushed in.
"Alright, time to bring the heat. Fire Staff. Good for crowd control. Boosts strength and physical power. Great for smashing stuff."
The spear melted into a blazing fire staff, heat radiating from the body. Buddha slammed it down, sending a wave of fire that knocked both men off their feet.
Gunfire erupted from the van.
"Ranged mode! Let's take to the skies. Wind Bow, now. High-speed firing, increased agility, and enhanced eyesight. Shoot where you feel, not just see."
The staff collapsed into a curved wind bow. Arrows formed from pure air and fired rapidly, pinning weapons to the floor and knocking another attacker into a lamppost.
"Back to basics. Lightning Vajra again. Let's wrap this up in style."
Buddha returned the weapon to the vajra, electricity humming through the limbs.
"And... done. Show's over, kid. You're up."
Control returned to me, and I dropped to my knees. My whole body shook.
The last kidnapper dropped his weapon and ran. I didn't chase. The girl curled up behind a dumpster, shaking.
I walked over, heart pounding. I tried to say something.
Then everything went black.