Bezrodish. Predzemye

Life is a hunt. The true beast never dies if you don’t kill it. It’s very hard to put an old beast to death—and even harder to kill an ancient one, whose death would elevate you—without a Gift. Practically impossible. And the Gift is only in the Abyss. In essence, the holes in it are the beginning of the Path. The one who steps into the Abyss makes the first step. The one who steps back with victory makes the second and decisive. I made them both.

In our world, only two things matter: strength and the allotted lifespan until old age. Both are attainable, but try to get the seed of life or a beanstalk of growth when you’re a minor, powerless nobody with no name—kicking you for free brings joy to everyone.

Only the Path does not divide people into rich and poor, into orphans and those born with everything from noble parents. Everyone has the right to take the road to the Summit and, overcoming all the belts of the world, reach true power and immortality. Everyone has the right, but not everyone can. And certainly not everyone wants to.

I want to. I have no choice. Only strength will help me climb out from the very bottom. It will help me find and return my Tishka. Sister, wait! I will save you! And I will avenge the murder of our parents. I can. I’m stubborn. Good—something happened, and my body is finally getting stronger. Probably I’m just growing faster.

No. You’re wrong, boy. It’s just that the Supreme Grandmaster Lo—me—was unlucky enough to be forced into you, this weakling. The same choice without any choice. But my misfortune turned into luck for you. A worthless worm now has a chance to survive. For your death is my death. And even after living five thousand years, I don’t want to die. I have too many unfinished affairs. And enemies.

Don’t dare to let me down, bearer! From you now depends not only the fate of your accursed planet. The stars see…