The End Before the Beginning [Prologue One]

It was early when I woke up, with the soft morning light filling the room. The air was still fresh, and the silence was only broken by the sound of the shower running and the off-key voice of my fiancée, humming her favorite song. Lying there, I stretched slowly, letting my body wake up gradually, and I stayed there, looking at the white ceiling, allowing myself a few more minutes of tranquility.

I took a deep breath, and as I moved again, I noticed the familiar feeling of my morning erection. Instinctively, I reached for my member, still rigid beneath the fabric of my pants. It was at that moment that the fogged door of the bathroom opened, and through the mist of steam, the most beautiful sight in the world emerged.

— Are you already excited this early in the morning? — she asked with a mischievous smile, her eyes shining as they slid to where my hand rested. Her hoarse voice, full of softness, had the power to captivate me in a way no melody ever could.

She was wrapped only in the towel that embraced her perfect curves, her body still warm from the shower. Seeing her like that made the desire pulse stronger, and a playful smile appeared on my lips.

— For you? Always — I replied, with a teasing tone.

Without taking her eyes off mine, she let the towel drop, revealing the perfection of her body, every detail being the reason for my lust and admiration. She crawled slowly onto the bed, like a sensual predator, until she was above me, her perfume filling the air, intoxicating and irresistible.

— I don't have much time... — she whispered against my lips, nibbling them in a soft kiss, the intense and provocative gaze always making me lose control.

The feeling of her warm body against mine, the gentle touch, and the desire in her eyes made the world around us disappear.

In a swift movement, I slid my pants away and pulled her up onto me, wrapping my arms around her bare body. The heat of our bodies collided in an embrace that mixed passion and desire, our lips meeting in a wet kiss, full of urgency and need.

— Condom... — I murmured, almost breathless, my eyes searching hers as I tried to control my ragged breathing. — We're out...

She paused for a moment, still on top of me, and looked at me with a firm and determined gaze. Her fingers traced down my abdomen until they found my member, holding it delicately, yet with a firmness that sent shivers from head to toe. The warm and wet feeling of her intimacy pressing against my tip pulled a choked sigh from me.

— We don't need that — she replied, her voice low and husky, as she slowly slid over me, enveloping me completely. — Just... us.

The heat, the intensity, the feeling of being completely connected made my whole body vibrate with pleasure. Without hesitation, Luana began to move at a rhythm that left me on the edge of ecstasy, her hips riding with precision and desire. Each movement provoked waves of pleasure that surged through my body, stealing my breath away. In response, I gripped her thighs tightly and squeezed her ass, guiding her movements as my lips captured her breast in a hungry kiss.

Her soft moans intensified, and the way she bit her lips with each thrust drove me wild. Our breaths became erratic, a reflection of the desire amplifying with every second. I held her tightly, feeling her muscles tense with each thrust, and with a sudden movement, I turned her on the bed, taking control.

Now on top, I looked into her eyes, and without saying a word, I plunged my member into her as deep as I could. Her body arched beneath mine, her nails scratching my back as our movements synchronized, fast and intense, as if we were racing against time, trying to capture that moment forever. Our mouths met every now and then, in deep kisses that seemed to steal the breath from each other.

When we finally reached our peak, the room seemed to spin around us. We were sweaty, breathless, our bodies trembling with pleasure. She rested her head on my chest, her legs still lightly spasming, and I wrapped my arms around her, feeling her heart beating strongly against mine.

— That was... — she began, with a satisfied smile on her face, her eyes half-closed from exhaustion and contentment. — Incredible.

I ran my hand through her wet hair and kissed the top of her head.

— Wonderful — I replied, still feeling the connection between us, as if the world outside no longer existed.

— I'm going to be late — she said, still catching her breath, but making no effort to get up. Instead, her hand slowly slid over my member, teasing me with a slow and irresistible caress.

— What time do you have to be at college? — I asked, my voice still hoarse from exhaustion and pleasure.

— In half an hour — she replied, squeezing my already rigid member lightly, her mischievous smile lighting up her face. — But before that... Do you want to take a shower with me?

She didn't need to ask twice. I got up and followed her to the shower, where our bodies met once again, under the hot water cascading down like the perfect complement to the heat between us. In the midst of the steam, we made love again, with the same intensity and passion.

A few minutes later, she was already ready to leave. She wore an impeccable black suit, her hair tied back in an elegant ponytail that accentuated her natural beauty even more. She was radiant, as always, and looked ready to conquer the world.

— Good luck on your presentation — I wished, moving closer to give her a light kiss on the lips.

She smiled, that smile overflowing with love and confidence, the same one that made me love her more each day. In response, she pulled me in for a deeper kiss, one that seemed to want to prolong the moment, before finally getting into the car and leaving.

Waking up so early was a rare event for me. As the house fell into an unusual silence, I stood in the living room, not quite sure what to do. I thought about going for a run, but my body was still tired, despite being invigorated by sex. Without haste, I threw myself onto the couch, letting my thoughts wander, until the familiar feeling of excitement began to take over me again.

— Well, that's not a bad idea... — I murmured to myself, getting up and returning to the bathroom for a long shower.

Now fully awake, I went down to the kitchen in search of breakfast. Upon entering, I found Rose, my housekeeper, already working. She had been with me since I started living alone five years ago, and she always kept the house spotless. She was a woman in her fifties, and although age was beginning to show its signs, it was easy to imagine that she had been very attractive when she was younger.

— Good morning, Rose — I greeted, sitting at the table.

— Good morning, Arthur. Where is Miss Luana? — she asked, always polite and formal, with her maternal demeanor.

— She had to leave early for college... And, Rose — I added with a smile —, I've already asked you to stop with that "Miss" thing. Luana is younger than you.

She smiled, shaking her head slightly, but said nothing. It was her way, always so professional, but with an evident affection in every gesture. While she prepared my coffee, I realized how that routine, however simple, was part of the stability I valued so much in my life.

— Turn on the TV to Kastigo News. — With the command, the LED screen that had been displaying a tranquil landscape immediately changed to the indicated channel. The abrupt change broke the silence, replacing it with a flood of voices.

— Still this? — I murmured to myself.

It had been almost two weeks since the incident, but the media was still obsessed. On the screen, a TV program dedicated to the game, with the tone of typical digital gossip, showed a young woman interviewing a mature-looking man, perhaps in his thirties.

— How was it possible for a single person to destroy an entire city in such a short time? — the presenter questioned, looking at a card in her hands, as if confirming the absurdity of the question.

— Well, the shorter answer is: "it's possible because he's the strongest" — Andrew replied, with a half-smile on his face. In the game world, he was known as Odin, the most evil and unpredictable blue player.

— And the longer one? — The journalist didn't seem satisfied, clearly trying to extract more details to heighten the drama of the situation.

Andrew sighed, making quotes with his fingers as he explained:

— First, it wasn't exactly "a few minutes." — The quotes were a touch of cynicism. — Kastigo has a time acceleration of five times faster than the real world. So, for us, it took about three hours for the complete destruction of Nova Camelot. Of course, that's still an incredible amount of time to wipe out a city of that size.

The presenter nodded with a vague look, as if she understood, but it was obvious she had no idea what he was talking about. I wondered how someone who worked with game-related matters could seem so out of place.

— Hades — Andrew continued, adopting a more serious tone — is a monster, with enough power to topple entire kingdoms. He is one of the first players, which gave him a crushing advantage to explore and dominate the world of Kastigo before anyone else.

— And is that allowed? — She seemed genuinely confused. — He's just a player, like any other, isn't he?

— No, he's not like any other player — Andrew emphasized, almost laughing at the journalist's naivety. — He's the best. — The way he said that bothered me, leaving an uncomfortable weight in the air. — The only ones who could stop him are the other four in the top 5. But of those, three serve him, and the only one left is Ragnar, but they never truly face each other.

— And why do you think that? — the journalist pressed, but I had already lost interest.

After breakfast, I sat down with the contract that was on the table, asking me, as Hades, to do a commercial. A car commercial. I let out a sigh, reading the content. Hades, the feared most powerful player in Kastigo, promoting cars? It seemed like a joke.

— It's not like I need the money… — I muttered, tossing the contract into the trash as I sent a quick email to my agent, rejecting the proposal.

The moment I clicked "send," a pop-up appeared on my computer screen. It was a message from Rodrigo, my brother.

[Rodrigo: Are you awake? Do you have anything to do tonight?][08:23]

I stared at the screen for a few seconds before letting out a short laugh. Rodrigo always showed up with unexpected invitations, especially when I had no idea how to fill the rest of my day.

I kept staring at the screen, still wondering what Rodrigo wanted so early. We were close, but we couldn't be more different, despite being identical twins. I, more reserved and focused, didn't understand how he could be so chaotic in real life while in the game he showed commitment to ideals of heroism and honor. In the game, Rodrigo was a principled warrior; outside of it, he was impulsive, always getting into trouble. It wasn't uncommon to see him mixed up in gambling, bar fights, or, worse, affairs with married women. And invariably, I was the one called to solve his problems — like that time I had to get him out of jail after he was arrested for harassment.

Well, if he was messaging me early, something was off.

Without letting myself think too much, I grabbed my phone and recorded a reply.

— I'm awake. Yes, I have plans. I'm taking Luana to her favorite hotel to celebrate her graduation.

The reply came almost instantly.

[Rodrigo: I figured. Can you get into the game now? I need something.][08:24]

I sighed, already imagining that my peaceful morning was about to end.

— Does it have to be now? I wanted to sleep a bit more…

[Rodrigo: Yes, it has to be now. I need you to launch an attack on the capital of the draconians.][08:24]

Suddenly, my sleep completely vanished, as if I had taken an overdose of caffeine. An attack on the capital of the draconians? That would be suicide. I knew what he was asking me — if I attacked, Ifrit, the Flying Hell, would certainly show up, and facing him would be impossible, even with the power that Hades possessed.

I replied cautiously.

— That's not going to happen. I'm in Basilian right now, thinking about annexing that territory. Besides, I don't want to deal with Ifrit. Why do you want me to attack the draconians, anyway?

[Rodrigo: The goddess of light gave me a mission. I need to kidnap the priestess of the red dragon. She will be a crucial piece against the demons.][08:25]

The priestess of the red dragon? Damaeri. That sounded familiar, and also too late. According to recent information I received from Cerberus, Damaeri had been under the control of Belphegor, one of the demon lords, for weeks now. The question now was: should I tell Rodrigo this? No. Better to gather more information first.

After a few minutes of conversation, we crafted a plan. I was to travel as quickly as possible to the draconian realm. I would attack the capital, and Rodrigo would show up to confront me, staging a hero vs. villain showdown. In the chaos of the battle, he would kidnap the priestess and take her to Ellora, the goddess's realm, completing his mission. As for me, my role would be to distract Ifrit for as long as possible.

However, there was a crucial difference between our plans. Rodrigo didn't know that I had very different intentions. Attacking the draconians wasn't to help him with his mission. This was the perfect opportunity to turn the powers of the world upside down. Besides, if I could manage to kill Ifrit, I could unlock a new ability that could change the course of everything.

That mission, for me, was more than a brotherly favor. It was a power play.

— Alright, Rodrigo — I said, preparing my mind for what was to come. — I'll go, but when this is over, we need to have a serious talk.

The silence of the room was interrupted by the sound of a message notification.

[Rodrigo: You always saving me, brother. I owe you one more.][08:28]

The ambition to dominate the world had never felt so tangible as it did now. The goddess of light and the demons were locked in their eternal struggle, and this silent war offered me the perfect opportunity to emerge as the true sovereign. Neither light nor dark could grow beyond what I would allow. The assassination of the red dragon priestess would be the blow that destabilized both sides, and, if everything went according to plan, Ifrit would fall as well, leaving me in absolute control. This would mark the breaking point between Rodrigo and me. He was still trapped in his ideals of heroism and honor, but I had already transcended that childish morality.

I knew time was short. Luana would be back soon, and I wanted everything resolved before our celebration. The excitement of my decision pulsed through my veins, quickening my movements. I rushed down the stairs to the game room, with Rose shouting for me to be careful. This wasn't the time for caution, and every second wasted could compromise the plan. I stepped into the virtual reality capsule, and the world of Kastigo Online quickly took shape around me.

— Good afternoon, my father — greeted Anemus as soon as I opened my eyes in the game. Her voice, always calm and controlled, sounded almost like a distant echo as my mind was already plotting the next steps.

— Hello, Anemus. We don't have time for formalities. We're attacking Draconia. Inform Cerberus and Minerva.

Anemus nodded silently, as she always did, before disappearing to carry out my orders. As she walked away, I began to draw the sigil necessary for the teleportation magic. Creating new magics was one of my specialties in the game. Although the Kastigo system was complete and vast, certain things still depended on the player's creativity. I couldn't expect the game to hand me the power I sought; I had to forge it. The sigil glowed with a crimson light as my mind focused the necessary power to bridge the distance between my troops and the draconian capital.

Shortly after, Anemus returned.

— Cerberus and Minerva have already started moving the Scavengers — she informed me, with the same monotonous and efficient voice as always.

Anemus, with her always calm expression and green-gold eyes, was a unique and powerful creation, born directly from my power. Creatures like her didn't often appear in Kastigo Online. Having a fairy born this way required a rare combination of magical power and luck. In the past, in retro games, fairies served only as guides, companions at the start of the journey. But Kastigo was different. With its advanced artificial intelligence, Anemus was as complex and independent as any other player. She had discernment, feelings, and, if mistreated, could betray me and choose another master. That's why our relationship was deeper, something akin to that of a father and daughter.

Anemus crossed her arms, hiding her small breasts under the elegant black lace dress that floated around her, while her eyes gazed at me cautiously.

— Why are we attacking Draconia? — her monotonous voice, but filled with apprehension, interrupted the silence as I drew the sigil on the ground.

I didn't look away from my task but replied without hesitation, briefly explaining the plan. She knew the risks. Ifrit, the legendary dragon, was a real threat. If he killed me, the Dragon Seal would be my punishment. A curse that would mark my avatar, revealing my location to all the dragons in the world. Surviving with something like that would be practically impossible. However, the rewards outweighed the risks. Killing Ifrit would guarantee me part of his power, making me unbeatable and solidifying my position as the strongest player in the world.

Anemus took a deep breath, absorbing the implications. — This plan could destroy you. You know that, don't you?

I paused my drawing for a moment and looked at her. Her green-gold hair cascaded to the ground, harmonizing with her cold eyes, which did not match the concern etched on her delicate face. She was a beautiful creature, and her loyalty was not something I took for granted. I smiled to reassure her.

— I know. But if you're with me, I know everything will turn out fine.

A light blush crept onto Anemus's cheeks, momentarily breaking her always composed appearance. With that brief moment of vulnerability, I turned my attention back to the sigil. Once I completed the drawing, Anemus and I positioned ourselves over the magical circle. The air around us distorted as I used a portion of my magical power, transporting us from the mansion in Basilian to the realm of Draconia.

As we opened our eyes, the extreme heat of the new environment enveloped us. We were surrounded by volcanic mountains and bubbling lakes of magma; the heat was suffocating. Ahead, beyond the sulfurous smoke, the imposing silhouette of the draconian city could be distinguished, carved into the mountainsides.

— Let's get started — I declared. — First, we'll get closer and prepare a teleportation sigil to have an escape route in case something goes wrong.

— I hope that won't be necessary — Anemus replied as she cast a wind spell, creating a refreshing barrier around us to combat the scorching heat.

— I hope so too — I said as I equipped my resistance amulets. — But if things get out of control, we sacrifice the Scavengers, kill Damaeri, grab Cerberus and Minerva, and flee. Ifrit won't be able to handle so many at once. He'll need time to kill them all.

We walked along the road between the volcanic lakes until I drew the escape sigil in an isolated area. Everything seemed calm. As we passed through the city gates, it became clear that my presence, although monitored, would not be directly challenged. My power spoke louder than any local law. I, one of the most feared beings in Kastigo, could wander freely, while the NPCs merely watched from a distance, afraid to intervene.

Of course, there were beings capable of defeating me, but most followed me, or simply had no reason to oppose me. That was my advantage.

The draconian city, with its imposing walls and an atmosphere already hot due to its volcanic nature, seemed to completely ignore the danger it was about to face. For the armies of the world and for the common NPCs, it was wiser to let me walk freely than to try to confront me. However, this was not one of those moments. If they knew what I was planning, they wouldn't hesitate to try to kill me right there. And Ifrit would show up much sooner. But so be it.

When I reached the central square, where the monumental architecture of the draconians stood out, I sent a message to Rodrigo, ready to initiate the attack. Anemus, restless, moved her anxious eyes from side to side, waiting for my command.

— "I'm on my way with my army. We'll arrive in two hours. I had to position my camp far enough away to avoid raising suspicion." That's what he said. So, shall we begin? — I declared, not waiting for a response from my loyal companion.

As soon as my words hung in the air, I executed the attack. In a matter of seconds, the draconian capital, illuminated by fire and the forges that burned incessantly, was engulfed by suffocating darkness. Shadows took shape, black arms stretching out and choking the citizens, consuming any light. Chaos spread through the city, and soon the draconian forces mobilized, but it was too late. As predicted, the terror I unleashed forced Ifrit to emerge from his hiding place much earlier than I had planned.

The sky above us ignited as Ifrit, the legendary red dragon, appeared, his colossal wings spitting fire and lava. The searing heat enveloped everything around, transforming the already hot environment into a true hell. Seeing that being with a wingspan of over sixty meters was impressive, and for a moment, the magnitude of what I was facing hit me. I laughed. Not out of joy, but pure disbelief. There he was, a true world boss.

— Who are you to dare attack my kingdom? — Ifrit's voice echoed, rumbling like thunder, laden with centuries of power and authority.

I felt the weight of Ifrit's presence crushing my confidence for a moment. But Anemus's winds protected me, and the adrenaline of battle surged through me. This was the challenge I had been waiting for.

— Nice to meet you, Ifrit, the Flying Inferno! — I shouted, raising my arms as I channeled my energy for the next attack. — I am Hades, and I've come to kill you!

However, I soon realized that things would not go as I had imagined. The initial attack was powerful, but Ifrit barely felt the impact. His flames surrounded us like a hurricane of destruction, and the battle turned into a desperate struggle for survival. Anemus and I fought fiercely, but Ifrit was relentless, his health practically intact while we were already exhausted.

The Scavengers arrived late, a day after the battle began, but by then it was too late. Our endurance was at its limit, and Ifrit still had over 98% of his life intact. All we managed was to hold the line long enough to devise a plan for escape.

And Rodrigo? He never showed up. The promised two hours passed, and there was no sign of his army or the priestess Damaeri. I waited for him, hoping to see his help arriving, but time passed, and nothing. Just the dragon attacking us incessantly, and our forces dwindling by the second.

— Damn dragon... — I murmured as we retreated, our bodies broken and the plan failed. — Shit, I'll have to compensate those who were cursed when they died fighting Ifrit, but for now...

The sky was already darkening when I stepped out of the capsule. The fight against that damn dragon stretched over four days until we decided to retreat. It was a disaster in every sense, but at least the team managed to loot the city and rack up a lot of experience points by eliminating the citizens. However, it was not the time to lose myself in daydreams about the game.

I grabbed my phone and saw several messages from Luana. She was probably already on her way home, and I needed to hurry. I set the phone aside and ran to the bathroom, where I took a hot shower. The water relieved the tension built up from the last days of fighting. Although I hadn't been there in person, the sensations were somewhat transferable.

After the shower, I dressed in the way Luana loved: a well-pressed white shirt, dark jeans, dress shoes, and a few simple jewels, finishing off with her favorite perfume. All that was left was to wait for her arrival.

An hour passed, and night fell completely, but Luana still hadn't arrived. I sent several messages and called multiple times, but her phone was off, increasing my concern. However, what was to come was unimaginable.

Worried, I grabbed the car key, and as I headed for the door, my phone pinged with several notifications. Imagining they were messages from Luana made me pull the device from my pocket in a hurry, but my heart shattered when I saw what was on the screen.

The messages were from Rodrigo. He had sent photos and videos that I wished were just a tasteless joke. But, to my horror, they were real. In the video, Luana was naked, presenting her backside toward my brother, who was filming and taking pictures while penetrating her, making her moan like she did when she was with me in the morning.

Incredulity washed over me, and a wave of nausea rose in my throat as I looked at those images. My fingers trembled, and the phone slipped from my hand, hitting the floor with a dull thud. My mind struggled to find a justification, an explanation. Maybe it was an old video, something that had happened before us. But that thought was suffocated by the memories of her moans, the feeling of her warm skin still on my body.

Anger and pain began to swirl together in a turmoil. Rodrigo, my brother, my blood. And Luana, the woman I thought loved me. All the warmth and intimacy of that morning turned bitter and poisoned.

Without thinking, I grabbed the phone back and dialed her number. A part of me hoped she would say it was a mistake, that it wasn't what it looked like. The line rang once, twice, three times, before going to voicemail.

— Luana, pick up... — I murmured, but my voice faltered. The silence on the other end was deafening, and the feeling of betrayal wrapped around me like a heavy cloak, crushing any hope that remained.

— Hello? This is Luana. I can't answer right now, but— beep!

Her voice echoed in my mind like a blow, intensifying the ferocity of my despair.

— How could she? — I shouted into the emptiness of the house. — How could they both?

I took a deep breath, trying to force calm, but what I felt was a growing void, a betrayal that seemed to open an abyss in my chest. Rodrigo had always had a strange competitiveness with me, but I never imagined he could do something so cruel. Now, it wasn't just the trust that was shattered — it was the sense of everything.

Not knowing where to go or what to do, I grabbed the car keys again and walked out the door, the sound of it slamming echoing through the house like a lament.

Inside the car, I turned on Luana's phone GPS — something we had decided to share for emergencies, or at least that was the justification we used back then. Now, it felt ironic and cruel. With each breath, it was a struggle to contain the anger burning in my chest, as the images of the betrayals replayed incessantly in my mind. My hands trembled on the steering wheel, my face burned, and my heart raced faster than the engine.

With every kilometer I passed, the fury intensified, distorting the reality around me. I was heading toward her, not knowing what I would do upon finding her, but the need to confront her became increasingly unbearable. I needed to see with my own eyes. I needed to question her. I needed answers. There was no logic in my decision, just a primitive need to face the truth, even if that truth had already crushed me.

Speeding through the dark streets, I lost track of what was around me. It was as if the car was as out of control as I was. When I realized it, it was too late. A sharp turn appeared before me, and my reflexes, dulled by fury, failed. The steering wheel spun, the car skidded, and everything around me became a blur. The sound of the tires screaming on the asphalt and the violent impact were the last things I perceived before everything went dark.

These are the last memories I have of a twenty-five-year life. What remains now is merely an echo of what could have been, a story interrupted by betrayal and the fury that consumed my being.