Blood and Iron

In the middle of the night, the moon above shone brightly in the sky. Its light brought peace to those who beheld it, yet for Michael, it offered solace, solitude, and a moment of tranquility. He sat in a chair, cradling a cup of tea in his hand.

This tea was not something a poor person could afford; only the wealthy and high-ranking had access to it. Gazing at the moon, Michael chuckled softly, "Moon above the mountains and clouds, you are like a guide for those who have lost their way in this dark world."

In his life, Michael was a lazy person, so indolent that he was often called a "kid with no bright ideas." He was an average 16-year-old whom many considered hopeless and ridiculed. He possessed only a sword inherited from unknown ancestors, which had no use in an era of peace until war arrived. A large country finally decided to attack a smaller one for its resources.

At the age of 20, Michael joined the army. Standing tall at 6.3 feet, with brown eyes and fair skin, he carried a sword on his back and a rifle in his arms. In war, he slew enemy soldiers with bullets and sword alike, never relenting until all adversaries either perished or surrendered. By the age of 30, the war finally ceased, and he gained renown under many names, but "Master Artist" became the most popular due to his strategic brilliance that led to victory.

Each time he attacked, cities fell, leaving behind only the sights and smells of blood, iron, and rotting corpses. Yet this was not the life Michael desired; he simply yearned to live a fulfilling life, to grow old and pass away peacefully with his dreams intact.

As he gazed at the moon, memories long buried within his heart began to stir to life before his eyes.

"In the end, I failed to live a satisfying life," Michael sighed emotionally, yet there were no regrets in his eyes. He smirked, "Well, I did my best to live a life without regrets," unable to suppress a laugh.

"If given another chance at life, I would pursue a life that satisfies my desires—a life free from death and everything that impedes me from obtaining what I want." Seconds later, while staring at the moon, a giant scarlet eye appeared in the sky, its size eclipsing the moon. It was so immense that it could swallow a planet with malicious intent. Its shape resembled a large iris and vertical pupil, akin to that of a cat.

With that, Michael died at the age of 30.

In the vast void where reality and fantasy collide, in a place where universes are born and destroyed, and where incomprehensible creatures exist that only powerful beings can comprehend, a lost soul roamed swiftly until it disappeared.