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The arena fell silent as the announcer's voice boomed across the coliseum. "The final preliminary battle! Hanan, the latecomer versus Ferah, the Succubus Necromancer!"

Hanan's heart hammered against her ribs as she stood at the edge of the teleportation circle. Her emerald eyes were still red from crying for Bruwa, and her hands trembled as she gripped her staff. The weight of witnessing her sister's death, her sister's choice to die free rather than live enslaved, pressed down on her like a mountain.

"I have to do this," she whispered to herself, her silver hair catching the arena lights. "For Bruwa. For everyone who's been corrupted by these gods."

Queen Hania placed a gentle hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Remember what your sister showed us," she said softly.

Across the arena, Ferah materialized in a swirl of purple smoke and shadow. The succubus stood tall and predatory, her crimson hair flowing like liquid fire, her curves accentuated by form-fitting black leather that seemed to absorb light. Her eyes glowed with malevolent intelligence as she surveyed the arena with the confidence of a predator who had never known defeat.

But it was what materialized beside her that made Hanan's blood run cold.

A spectral figure, translucent and ethereal, stood at Ferah's side. The ghost had yellow braided hair and emerald eyes that looked exactly like...

"Bruwa," Hanan gasped, her voice breaking.

DING!

FERAH'S SYSTEM INTERFACE

Level: 299

Class: Necromancer

Title: The Soul Harvester

Health: 22,000/22,000

Mana: 18,000/18,000

Special: Revive (Bruwa's Soul Enslaved)

Corruption Level: 94%

Ferah's laugh was like breaking glass mixed with honey. "Surprised, big sister? Did you think death would free her from serving a higher purpose?"

The spectral Bruwa turned hollow eyes toward Hanan, her expression empty and mechanical. "Sister," she said, her voice an echo of its former self, "you abandoned me in life. Now I serve one who truly appreciates power."

DING!

HANAN'S SYSTEM INTERFACE

Level: 156

Class: Elf??

Title: Unknown

Health: 8,500/8,500

Mana: 12,000/12,000

Hidden Attribute: Dormant Bloodline Power

"No," Hanan whispered, her voice growing stronger. "No, that's not her. That's not my sister."

"Oh, but it is," Ferah purred, running her fingers along the spectral Bruwa's cheek. "Every memory, every skill, every moment of pain you caused her, it's all here, perfectly preserved in necromantic amber."

Three years later, after the fall of the Kingdom of Luntian

The garden of Kubo Village glittered in the morning sun as fourteen-year-old Hanan carefully braided three-year-old Bruwa's golden hair. The younger elf sat perfectly still, trusting completely in her big sister's gentle hands.

"Sister," Bruwa said in her tiny voice, "why do you always take care of me?"

"Because I love you, silly," Hanan replied, weaving tiny crystal flowers into the braid. "That's what big sisters do. We protect the people we love."

"Even when I break things?"

"Even when you break things."

"Even when I cry too much?"

"Even when you cry too much."

"Even when I'm scared of the dark?"

Hanan paused in her braiding and turned her little sister around to face her. "Especially when you're scared of the dark. That's when you need me most."

Bruwa's emerald eyes so much like Hanan's own, sparkled with unshed tears. "I want to be brave like you someday."

"You're already brave," Hanan said, booping her sister's nose. "The bravest person I know."

"Really?"

"Really. And no matter what happens, no matter how big and scary the world gets, I'll always be here to take care of you. That's a promise."

Bruwa launched herself into Hanan's arms, and they tumbled backward into the soft grass, laughing as petals rained down around them.

"I love you, Hanan Sister."

"I love you too, little star."

The memory hit Hanan like a physical blow, and she staggered as tears streamed down her face. The spectral Bruwa tilted her head, a mockery of the curious gesture she'd made as a child.

"Such touching memories," Ferah cooed. "But memories are just ghosts of what was. Let me show you what is."

She gestured, and the spectral Bruwa raised her ghostly bow. The arrow that materialized was made of pure corruption, designed not to kill but to torment.

"Hollow Shot," the spectral Bruwa intoned.

The arrow struck Hanan in the chest, and suddenly she was drowning in twisted memories. Every moment of love she'd shared with Bruwa was corrupted, turning into scenes of abandonment and betrayal. She saw herself choosing duty over family, saw herself failing to save her sister, saw herself being too weak to matter.

DING!

HANAN'S SYSTEM ALERT

Debuff Applied: Corrupted Memories

Effect: All positive memories replaced with guilt

Duration: Until dispelled

Emotional Damage: 3,000

"How does it feel?" Ferah asked, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "To know that every moment of happiness you shared was built on lies?"

Hanan fell to her knees, her magic staff clattering to the ground as she clutched her head. "No... it wasn't like that... I loved her..."

"Love?" Ferah laughed. "Love is what the weak tell themselves to justify their failures. You loved her so much you let her be taken. You loved her so much you let her be corrupted. You loved her so much you let her die."

The spectral Bruwa notched another arrow, this one glowing with the cold light of absolute despair. "Soul Rend."

The attack struck Hanan directly in the heart, and she screamed as the corrupted magic tore through her defenses. But it wasn't physical pain, it was emotional agony, the feeling of every moment she'd ever failed someone she loved.

DING!

HANAN'S SYSTEM ALERT

Health: 5,500/8,500

Mana: 9,000/12,000

Status: Critically affected by emotional trauma

Warning: Continued exposure may cause permanent psychic damage

"She's breaking," Ferah observed with clinical interest. "Just like her sister did. The elves always break so beautifully."

In the spectator stands, Krad gripped the railing so hard his knuckles went white.

"She's not fighting back," he said desperately. "She's just taking it."