《Eternity After the End》


 Escape

    Finding myself alive inside a coffin wasn¡¯t exactly how I¡¯d imagined spending my youth. I mean, anyone would think being here meant I was dead. And honestly, I wouldn¡¯t blame them.


    But no¡ªI¡¯m still breathing. Thanks to my immortality, of course. Though, to be frank, I¡¯m not sure whether to call it a blessing or a curse right now. Two thousand years trapped here, utterly alone¡­ feels more like a punishment than a privilege.


    My hair, once stark white and lustrous, was now matted with filth and dried blood. A crime against aesthetics, if you ask me. How was I supposed to fix this? I didn¡¯t even have the strength to wallow properly.


    I sighed and pressed my palms against the coffin lid. Time to see if my body¡¯s as spry as I remember. Sure, I might technically be ancient, but that doesn¡¯t mean my muscles got the memo, right?


    C¡¯mon, old man. Time to crawl out of your grave¡­ literally.


    My strength was a shadow of its former self, but the lid shifted anyway. The damn thing had been reinforced with magic circles, but of course, without anyone renewing them over millennia, they¡¯d worn thin.


    It¡¯s like leaving a pot on the stove and forgetting the fire. Eventually, everything burns.


    With a hollow thud, the lid fell aside, stirring a wisp of dust. The first thing I saw¡­ was my own body. Seeing myself like that? An experience I wouldn¡¯t wish on my worst enemy.


    I was skin and bones.


    Honestly, I¡¯m shocked I survived this long on mana alone. Food¡¯s supposed to be essential, but I guess mana works¡­ sort of.


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    I touched my forehead and felt something crumble. Ash? No¡ªmore precisely, the remnants of my horns, now reduced to powder.


    You¡¯d think my drained mana caused it. But no.


    No matter how I strained, my Ryujin form refused to surface. Not a single scale. Calling it ¡°annoying¡± would be an understatement. It was infuriating.


    Pushing my mana further would¡¯ve been reckless. So instead, I gripped the coffin¡¯s edge and tried to stand.


    It hurt.


    No visible wounds, but every fiber of me burned with a dull, relentless ache. My legs shook like they¡¯d forgotten how to hold weight. This wasn¡¯t my first time struggling to stand¡ªbut back then, the reasons were¡­ different.


    I¡¯ve clawed through battles with laughable power and still walked away alive. Guess I owe my immortality for that, too.


    When I finally crawled out of the coffin, my first act was to draw in the ambient mana.


    Floating particles clung to my skin instantly, sliding across my body before seeping into my pores. The sensation was bizarre¡ªlike being coated in slime hungrily devouring breadcrumbs.


    Or something close to that.


    Nowhere to go, I thought.


    The realization hit with crushing weight¡­ and I wasn¡¯t wrong. There was no light to guide me, save for the faintly flickering mana particles in the darkness, tracing an uncertain path.


    Well, guess I¡¯ll follow them. Not like I have many choices.


    If I stumbled into something random, so be it. An ogre, a cyclops¡­ hell, even a goblin would do right now.


    Yeah, I know. Sounds ridiculous. But goblins¡ªdespite their reputation as dimwits¡ªaren¡¯t all idiots. Some can be surprisingly sharp.


    I tried to walk, but my legs had zero intention of cooperating. Two thousand years without moving. A miracle they still worked at all. But¡­ relearning how to use them? That¡¯d be a headache.


    I stumbled.


    Not surprising.


    Do I even have my boots?


    Pathetic.


    Why? Did I do something wrong?


    Aah¡­ Whatever. Asking myself that wouldn¡¯t fix anything.


    I should¡¯ve tracked down Eleanor or Raynold for answers.


    This felt ominous¡­ I couldn¡¯t even remember the last thing I¡¯d seen before being sealed away.


    Robert wasn¡¯t an option. Or an obligation. The guy¡¯s a total moron¡ªdoubt he¡¯d cooperate anyway.


    Then again¡­ Raynold wasn¡¯t much better. At least he had a shred of common sense.

 Aid

    I kept walking, my feet screaming in pain from being inactive for so long¡ªand to top it off, completely bare. I can¡¯t believe I don¡¯t even have my boots. It¡¯s utterly infuriating.


    Suddenly, a scorching heat enveloped my body, as if I were hundreds of miles from the sun, yet here, right on solid ground. An orange-red light and a rumbling, splashing roar surrounded me. Lava?


    What the hell is this¡­? Back in what you might call my youth (though I¡¯m still young), I¡¯d heard people talk about mountains that spewed a kind of thick, red liquid. They called them ¡°volcanoes.¡±


    I¡¯d never seen one, so I couldn¡¯t be sure if this was actually what it seemed. I knew lava as something that made the earth release magma, but I never imagined a mountain could hold it.


    It sounds ridiculous, considering nature is capable of anything. But cut me some slack¡ªI was truly an idiot back then.


    Though my eyes wanted to focus on that colossal lava mountain, they kept drifting to a tiny figure at its peak. His frame was small. And he was forging something, hammering an anvil with overwhelming force.


    It was intimidating. My body felt unbearably heavy; I no longer knew if it was due to that guy¡¯s presence or the lingering exhaustion weighing me down. But the silence shattered the moment his eyes landed on me.


    ¡°Finally managed to crawl out, did you? Well, that much is obvious.¡±


    His figure became clearer as he stepped forward. Was that¡­ a dwarf? Damn it¡­ Of all creatures, it had to be a dwarf?


    Ugh¡­ Dwarves aren¡¯t exactly known for their wit, but I guess this is what I¡¯m stuck with.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked, my voice barely audible, my vocal cords on the verge of collapse. This is such crap. At least back in that damn coffin, I could talk to myself in peace.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that answer is confidential for now, Mr. Jay.¡±


    He knows me?


    ¡°You¡¯d best rein in your hostility, Mr. Jay.¡± ¡ªOops, I¡¯d momentarily felt threatened and started radiating aggression. My bad ¡ª ¡°I¡¯m not here to harm you.¡±


    Even though my vocal cords had lain dormant for millennia, I could still hold a brief conversation without exhausting my voice. Somehow, it felt like suffering from a strange affliction.


    I forced myself to speak, uttering words that undoubtedly spilled from my lips: ¡°How do you know me?¡±


    The dwarf chose each word with meticulous precision, leaving questions hanging in the air like prolonged echoes. It was as if he wanted me to unravel the mystery of what was happening on my own, without a shred of help.


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    ¡°I am one of the few who do, Mr. Jay. I don¡¯t have much time, so I¡¯d better hurry and give you¡­ this.¡±


    The dwarf scrambled to rummage through the rocks. He pulled out an object wrapped in tattered rags. For a moment, I thought it was just garbage, but my instincts forced me to stay.


    Urgently, he descended the volcano, leaping between rocks to gain speed. Despite his small, stocky frame, his agility was astonishing. He might even be as strong¡ªor stronger¡ªthan Robert. No¡­ that¡¯s impossible. After defeating Astaroth, we surely claimed the top spot in the power rankings, right?


    Maybe.


    Finally, the dwarf stood before me, extended his arm, and handed me the rag-covered object. I took it with mild disgust. Though what right do I have to feel revulsion over rags when my own state is far worse?


    It was heavy. Even in my weakened state, its weight felt unbearable. What the hell am I holding? The rags slowly unraveled as I peeled them away. Just as I was about to remove the last layer, a chain clattered to the ground with a metallic spark.


    ¡°This is¡­¡± I murmured. My surprise¡ªor maybe the rush of unexpected nostalgia¡ªsummoned the silhouette of a weapon in my mind¡­ the silhouette of one weapon in particular.


    There was a time when I had to fight bare-handed. You can¡¯t imagine the pain of punching demon hides with naked fists. I resorted to leather gloves reinforced with mana, but my strength was so monstrous they¡¯d shatter instantly.


    I begged Robert to help me, and that¡¯s when I met her¡ªmy best friend: a whip-sword, versatile enough to be used as a chain or a conventional blade. It was perfect for someone like me, who fought at both close and long range.


    But¡­ when I faced Astaroth, the sword vanished from my hands without me noticing. I lost it the moment after I struck the final blow. After that¡­ I guess I ended up in that coffin.


    The edge of Zadkiel was identical to how it looked two thousand years ago¡ªor perhaps even more imposing. I held it again in my hands, feeling like a child rediscovering a beloved wooden toy.


    Understand this: If you lost what you cherished most and years later found it again, wouldn¡¯t you cling to it, terrified of losing it once more? Isn¡¯t that how it goes?


    Still, no matter how tightly I tried to grip my sword, it was a dangerous weapon. With a blade that sharp, the odds of cutting myself were high, so I opted to strap it to my back, curved like a snail¡¯s shell.


    I didn¡¯t want to push the dwarf further. After receiving something so priceless¡­ I suppose the proper thing was to express gratitude. But¡­ he cut me off.


    ¡°You should leave. Walk behind the volcano¡ªthere¡¯s a path that will lead you to the exit.¡±


    I wanted to ask more, but his voice dripped with urgency. He clearly didn¡¯t want me around any longer. Yet one question still gnawed at me.


    ¡°Before I go¡­ could you answer one question?¡±


    The dwarf sighed, as though haste mattered more than giving me a simple reply.


    ¡°Fine. But make it quick.¡±


    ¡°Why are you helping me?¡±


    ¡°Out there, things may seem ordinary, but secrets hide better than shadows in the dark. Mr. Jay, save the races of the Kings and restore peace to the world.¡±


    What¡­? That left me with more questions than answers.


    Aah¡­ Save the races? Are there hidden truths? What the hell does he mean by ¡°save the races of the Kings¡±? Three questions collided in my mind. I knew accepting a dwarf¡¯s help was a mistake, but I never imagined it¡¯d be this monumental.


    ¡°Now, go. I answered your question¡ªit¡¯s time for you to leave.¡±


    ¡°Wait. You¡¯ve only left me more confused. How does that answer my question?¡±


    ¡°You asked for one answer, and I gave it. Now leave. And keep our conversation secret.¡±


    To be honest, I nearly forced him to explain further¡ªbut he was right. I¡¯d only asked for one question. I couldn¡¯t demand more.


    It¡¯d be easy to ask another, but I keep my word. Proudly honorable, I suppose.


    Without another word, I nodded in gratitude to the dwarf and began walking. According to him, the exit lay behind the volcano¡ªand that¡¯s where I headed.

 Pointed ears

    Just as the dwarf had said, the exit path lay right behind the volcano. Honestly, I could hardly believe it. I mean, who in their right mind would place a trail directly behind a mountain that spews lava like it¡¯s its favorite hobby?


    Oh, heavens. Or maybe you see it differently? Even the most clueless would admit that the backside of a volcano isn¡¯t exactly the most logical spot for a pathway.


    But against all odds, here I am, breathing fresh air. I¡¯m certain that if I¡¯d stayed in that cave a few more hours, anxiety would¡¯ve strangled me with its icy hands.


    And¡ªnot to sound pessimistic¡ªI have a nagging suspicion I¡¯ve just stepped into one of the least beloved places among explorers.


    ¡°Things just keep getting worse,¡± I muttered.


    At first glance, this place seems peaceful¡­ and in a way, it is. But the calm is deceptive. Like a kindly old man who¡¯s actually a pickpocket expert.


    I remember when I was just a brat, my teacher brought me to this very forest and ordered me to cross it without getting lost. Yeah, I know¡ªimpossible, right? Put yourself in my shoes: a kid who could barely string two sentences together, already expected to survive in a hostile environment. What kind of teacher does that? Mine, obviously.


    And yet, I never imagined I¡¯d stumble into the ¡°Dark Forest¡± right after leaving the cave. I suppose that means I¡¯m near the dwarven realm¡­ I¡¯d better not be wrong, though. Wandering this place would be a headache.


    I started walking aimlessly until something caught my eye: a trail leading deeper into the woods. According to my memory, that path wasn¡¯t here before¡ªor if it was, someone had hidden it with flawless magic.


    You might wonder what¡¯s so special about this forest, aside from its obvious gloom and ominous vibe. Well, let me enlighten you. This place is treacherous¡ªnot because of illusions or cheap tricks. Here, getting lost is easy. Too easy. The mana density is so high it presses down like a suffocating weight, as if the forest itself wants to crush you. For the unlucky souls unaccustomed to this intensity, nausea and dizziness are unavoidable.


    Luckily, I¡¯m used to it. My body handles it without much trouble. Perks of being blessed, I guess. Though part of it is also thanks to my teacher¡¯s brutal training.


    As I walked, I noticed bugs skittering and tiny fairies flitting through the forest shadows. The sight brought back an old memory¡­ one where I walked alongside Eleanor and the others.


    Where are they now?


    The last time I saw them was before the clash with Astaroth. After that¡­ Well, I suppose the rest goes without saying.


    As I kept walking, the sound of insects reached my ears with surgical precision¡ªlike a dart hitting the bullseye. Maybe the absurd number of bugs in this forest is due to the mana density. Honestly, if I were a bug, I¡¯d live here too, soaking up enough mystical energy to grow stronger.


    Well done, random critters! You know how to pick a prime habitat.


    So far, nothing noteworthy had appeared, so I¡¯ll spare you the tedious details of my surroundings.


    ¡°Agh!¡± I grunted after colliding with¡­ air?


    I blinked. Looked around. Nothing.


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    ¡­What the hell?


    I rubbed my forehead, trying to soothe the sting. The worst part? It wasn¡¯t even a hard impact, but it burned like I¡¯d been whacked with an enchanted hammer. Am I this weakened? Damn, this is infuriating. A frail body is useless.


    Out of sheer curiosity, I reached out and touched the air where I¡¯d felt the collision. My finger sank into nothingness, as if dipping into an invisible sludge pool. The sensation sent a chill down my spine, and I yanked my hand back on instinct.


    Then, something strange happened.


    The space shattered.


    Like an invisible mirror cracking, fractures spread in all directions. The gaps widened, and shards began to splinter off and crash to the ground.


    Behind the rupture¡­ was something that hadn¡¯t been there a second ago. A new space, a new realm. And within it¡ª


    ¡°Elves?¡±


    Yep. Everywhere I looked, elves filled the scene.


    ¡­Okay. What the hell just happened?


    One moment, I was walking down an unfamiliar trail with zero signs of a hidden alternate dimension. The next, a whole damn elven village materialized out of thin air.


    It was obvious this reality split had been triggered by magic. But the weirdest part? I hadn¡¯t sensed any mana buildup nearby. Everything around me was the forest¡¯s raw, untamed mana.


    But, minor details aside¡­


    I¡¯d finally found an intelligent, sane race. Finally, beings I could reason with! So, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯ll calmly stroll into their hideout.


    ¡­Or so I thought.


    The moment I took a step toward the elves¡¯ mysterious dimension, guards materialized out of nowhere, spears aimed at my throat.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Alright.


    Let¡¯s forget what I said about ¡°intelligent and sane,¡± okay?


    Why are they pointing weapons at me? I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. At least, not that I recall.


    To make things worse, the rift behind me began sealing shut, cutting off my escape.


    ¡­For fuck¡¯s sake. It just keeps getting worse.


    ¡°Identify yourself!¡± boomed the voice of what appeared to be the guard leader.


    His deep, authoritative tone sent a slight chill down my spine, but I steadied myself. Now¡¯s not the time to tremble like a scared rabbit.


    Instinctively, I raised my hands in surrender, as if to say, Hey, I¡¯m harmless! Though, thinking about it¡­ Am I? Sure, I might look threatening, but deep down, I¡¯m a good guy.


    The guard wanted me to identify myself.


    ¡­But what was I supposed to say?


    If I thought about it, revealing my real name wasn¡¯t the brightest idea. The dwarf who helped me mentioned something about the ¡°races of the Kings¡± and that I should aid them. He also said few knew of my existence¡­ But if I analyzed this carefully, there was a high chance the King might recognize who I am.


    And if he did¡­ he might capture me. Or worse, destroy me.


    No, no, no! Enough fatalism. Think positive, damn it.


    Either way, I didn¡¯t want to risk an audience with anyone. Though, now that I thought about it¡­ Why the hell are there even ¡°Kings¡± in the first place?


    ¡°Did you not hear me?! Identify yourself. Now!¡±


    My musings were cut short by the guard¡¯s impatient roar. I couldn¡¯t stall any longer.


    Time to improvise.


    ¡°Nico. Nico Kaiser.¡±


    It was the first name that popped into my head. Not original? I know! But come on¡ªyou think I have time to brainstorm cool aliases right now?


    ¡°Very well, ¡®Nico Kaiser¡¯,¡± the guard repeated, dripping with skepticism.


    ¡­Yeah, I don¡¯t like that tone one bit.


    ¡°How did you find this place?¡±


    Oh, I thought he¡¯d ask, ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s your name?¡± Because let¡¯s face it¡ª¡°Nico¡± doesn¡¯t sound like a real name. But fine, I¡¯d have to mix some truth in.


    ¡°I was walking through the forest when the air suddenly cracked, and I stumbled into this place. By the way¡­ mind telling me where I am?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t get to ask questions during an interrogation.¡±


    ¡­Oh, come on, seriously?


    ¡°First, we must verify you¡¯re not a threat to the kingdom,¡± the guard continued.


    Pff. What absurd logic. I don¡¯t even know where I¡¯m standing, and already I¡¯m treated like a criminal.


    ¡°Where are you from?¡±


    ¡°A cave. I¡¯m an explorer, so I was¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know what an explorer is.¡±


    Then why ask?


    ¡°Are you armed?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    I lied shamelessly. Of course I¡¯m armed, but what¡ªyou want me to parade my weapons for you?


    The guard stared at me in silence for a few seconds. Then he raised his hand, and the others lowered their spears.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ We¡¯ll let you stay. However, if you cause trouble, you¡¯ll be jailed.¡±


    That¡¯s it?


    Not that I¡¯m complaining, but I expected more resistance. Still, look on the bright side: no arrest, no stabbing, and all my limbs intact.


    The guards gave me a curt nod before marching off.


    ¡­Well, that was easy.


    I¡¯d even say the tide¡¯s turning in my favor. Don¡¯t you think?

 A friend

    I wandered aimlessly through the elven kingdom, letting my eyes roam every corner with a mix of awe and curiosity. I had to admit: the architecture was mesmerizing. Marble, wood, entire trees carved into homes¡ªa spectacle that could only be described as¡­ well, breathtaking.


    The trees of the Dark Forest were so colossal and sturdy that it made sense someone would hollow them into dwellings. But there was something else about these structures, something that didn¡¯t quite align with elven elegance. I couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    Dwarven hands were definitely involved here.


    It wasn¡¯t just the engineering of the hanging bridges, which allowed easy movement between trees. It was subtler¡­ more distinct. And there it was¡ªthe irrefutable proof: a hammer¡¯s seal carved into the wood.


    Dwarves always left their mark on their creations, obsessed with etching their legacy into history. Even my sword, Zadkiel, bore that seal on its hilt. It was almost endearing how they ensured no one forgot their craftsmanship.


    I kept walking, lost in thought, until¡­


    ¡°Wait a second¡­¡±


    I stopped and glanced around. No houses. Just towering trees and the distant whisper of wind through leaves.


    ¡°When did¡­?¡±


    Clearly, I¡¯d walked too far. So far I hadn¡¯t even noticed I was utterly alone.


    And then, I felt it.


    A chill crawled up my spine.


    This mana¡­


    It was like a black stain in the air¡ªheavy, murky, oppressive. I¡¯d never sensed mana so¡­ corrupted. Was this truly coming from a person? Because honestly, it was worse than a demon¡¯s.


    My body reacted instinctively. I moved cautiously, following the trail of that nauseating energy. Something like this couldn¡¯t be ignored. This wasn¡¯t just dangerous¡ªit was the kind of mana that only existed when its wielder¡¯s heart was rotten to the core.


    Whether it was adrenaline or revulsion, I felt a faint dizziness.


    And then, I saw her.


    Ahead, a woman stood relaxed, gazing at a rosebush. Her fingers brushed the petals with poetic delicacy.


    My stomach churned. A storm of emotions surged in my chest¡ªdisgust, bitter memories, and deep, aching disappointment.


    I took a step forward, but before I could speak, her voice froze me.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Her tone was so indifferent, I almost wondered if she was even aware of the miasma her mana radiated.


    ¡°I¡­¡± I swallowed. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to answer that. Why the hell does your mana feel like¡­ this?¡±


    Not my sharpest reply, but come on¡ªwhat was I supposed to say? Corrupted mana only seeped from rotten souls. Normally, it was faint, like a dark mist. But this¡­ this was crude. Suffocating.


    Eleanor sighed, as if bored by the conversation.


    ¡°Ah, right. I forgot those freaky eyes of yours have that¡­ weird ability.¡± Her gaze swept over my face, a mocking half-smile curling her lips. ¡°Still making you look like a freakshow, I see.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t play dumb. You should already know why my mana feels this way.¡±


    ¡°What did you do?¡± My voice shook. I hated that. Hated how my composure shattered in an instant, how my chest tightened like something was crushing me.


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    Eleanor tilted her head, her expression hovering between mockery and pity.


    ¡°What? Don¡¯t you remember?¡±


    My blood turned to ice.


    What the hell is she talking about?


    A Reunion.


    Aren¡¯t reunions supposed to be sweet? A heartfelt moment, maybe with an awkward hug or silent tears. But I guess not all of us are that lucky.


    ¡°Let me jog your dead memory, Jay.¡±


    Eleanor¡¯s tone dripped venom. This wasn¡¯t just contempt¡ªno, she wanted to humiliate me. And the worst part? I had no idea why.


    ¡°Do you know why you ended up in that coffin? Pff. Of course you don¡¯t. I¡¯ll be blunt. It was us.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    My mind went blank.


    My lips moved, but no words came out. Like I¡¯d swallowed my own voice.


    ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± She sighed, as if annoyed by my reaction. ¡°I truly don¡¯t get how someone so calm could forget something like that. It was us, Jay. Robert, Raynold, and me. Need me to repeat it?¡±


    ¡°W-what are you talking about? That¡¯s impossible. You¡¯re my friends¡­ my family.¡±


    My voice trembled.


    Not from anger.


    Not from sorrow.


    It was the kind of trembling born of anguish¡ªthe suffocating fear that crushes your chest and steals your breath. That feeling your entire world is collapsing, but you refuse to believe it. Ever felt that? The panic that drowns your voice and buckles your knees.


    ¡°Friends? No. Haha. We¡¯re not friends, Jay. Seems you¡¯re deeply confused.¡±


    She mocked me. Casually. Mercilessly.


    ¡°Also, you¡¯ve gotten so thin. Did rotting in there really wreck you this badly? And I thought you¡¯d stay fit with all that mana of yours. Hell, even I struggle to outdo you, and magic¡¯s my specialty.¡±


    My hands turned ice-cold.


    I didn¡¯t answer. Couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°But what does it matter? Now, tell me¡ªhow the hell did you escape and get here?¡±


    I don¡¯t want to talk.


    I don¡¯t.


    My mind spun. They betrayed me. They did? Them? My brothers? The people I shielded again and again? The ones I protected with everything I had?


    Why?


    What reason could they possibly have?


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    Eleanor radiated hostility. A thick, oppressive aura, as if her mana were feeding on my doubt.


    This wasn¡¯t normal.


    She wasn¡¯t the same Eleanor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic¡ªI won¡¯t hurt you. Just answer.¡±


    Her voice softened, but it didn¡¯t calm me. My whole body was drenched in sweat. My legs begged to retreat.


    Her presence forced me to speak.


    I could resist. Maybe. But¡­ what¡¯s the point?


    Nothing would change. What¡¯s done is done.


    ¡°The¡­ magic circles blocking the lid wore off¡­ I stumbled here by chance.¡±


    Eleanor sighed. Long and heavy.


    ¡°Knew it. That idiot Robert forgot to reinforce the seals.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Never mind.¡±


    Her gaze shifted.


    It was the same feeling I¡¯d had in that coffin.


    A chill clawed up my spine.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let you live any longer. I¡¯ll finish this now¡ªwhile you¡¯re barely clinging to your mana.¡±


    I leapt backward on pure instinct. My leg, weak from disuse, buckled. I nearly fell.


    Danger. My body knew it before my mind did.


    ¡°¡ª¡­!¡±


    Eleanor lunged at me. I barely saw her. Her arm grazed my face before I blocked. A searing pain sliced across my cheek.


    Warm blood trickled down.


    Her hand swung again, aimed at my head. No weapon. No magic. Just her bare hands.


    I threw myself backward, rolling across the ground. She didn¡¯t stop.


    She stretched her hand, vines sprouting from her fingers¡ªliving whips lashing toward me. I could cut them¡­ but one misstep and¡­


    My cheek still bled. Shit.


    ¡°Agh!¡±


    Pain. When did¡ª?


    ¡°Aagh!¡±


    Two blows to the gut. Air fled my lungs in a choked gasp. But¡­ Eleanor hadn¡¯t moved. How¡ª?


    ¡°Stop making this harder. You¡¯re lucky I¡¯ll make it quick.¡±


    Eleanor strode toward me calmly, as if she hadn¡¯t just struck like lightning.


    ¡°Even if immortality¡¯s still in you, it¡¯s worthless without mana.¡±


    Her words froze me.


    I staggered upright, the sting on my cheek sharpening.


    ¡°How did you hit me?¡±


    Eleanor tilted her head, mocking.


    ¡°Hm? Oh, that. Just fists.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ you didn¡¯t even move.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Then I saw her. She stood right in front of me. But a second ago¡­


    ¡°We weren¡¯t idle all these years, Jay. Did you really think we wouldn¡¯t train after killing Astaroth?¡±


    It made sense. If something worse than Astaroth emerged, preparing was logical. But then¡­ If she¡¯s this strong¡­ why not kill me in one strike?


    Eleanor laughed softly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I control my strength perfectly. I won¡¯t kill you instantly. It¡¯ll be quick¡­ but I want to watch you squirm first.¡±


    I tried to lift my head, but my body screamed.


    Exhaustion? No. I¡¯d barely moved.


    Ah¡­ My mana¡¯s drained too fast.


    I¡¯m going to die, aren¡¯t I? Even immortal, without mana¡­


    Eleanor raised her arm, poised to strike. I swallowed hard.


    Then¡ª


    A white light erupted above me. Blinding. Warm. Alien.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    Eleanor scowled, shielding her eyes.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing, Jay?!¡±


    She shouted, but her voice felt distant. Too distant. Yet she stood right there. What¡¯s happening?


    The light hummed¡ªa shrill, drilling vibration in my ears.


    Eleanor screamed something else. Her figure thrashed wildly. Was she hitting the light? Trying to break it? How stupid. You can¡¯t shatter light.


    ¡°Damn you!¡±


    Her fury vibrated in my skull.


    The light swelled, swallowing me whole. Everything turned white.


    Then¡­


    Darkness. I fell.

 Charlotta

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    I was cold. My hands were moving¡ªI could feel it¡ªbut I couldn¡¯t see anything. The ground beneath me was uncomfortable, rigid¡­ rock? Yes, definitely rock. Hard, rough, with tiny points that dug into my back as if judging me for lying there.


    My vision¡­ was strange. Everything was covered in mana. Not just in front of me, but all around, enveloping every corner of this place. It sounded familiar, as if some part of me already knew it. But¡­ why?


    Where the hell am I?


    My body ached. I tried to sit up, but I couldn¡¯t even lift myself a little before a stab of pain shot through every fiber of my being, as if Eleanor had grabbed me like a punching bag and delivered her best blows.


    "Don''t try to get up, or it will hurt more."


    Eh?


    Is anyone else here?


    I tried turning my head in every direction, but even my neck protested with excruciating pain.


    "Who¡­?"


    "Don''t speak either."


    Well, at least I tried.


    Even my vocal cords are screwed? What the hell happened to me? Normally, when I get hit, waiting a few seconds is enough for everything to return to normal. But now¡­ no. I have no mana. Damn.


    The voice was feminine. It wasn¡¯t Eleanor. This voice was different. Its tone¡­ I can¡¯t quite explain it, but it gave me a strange feeling¡ªsomething between familiarity and a nostalgia for something I¡¯d never experienced.


    I couldn¡¯t see her. Everything was dark. Yet, she seemed to be stirring something.


    She came closer and extended her hand, holding what looked like a bowl.


    "Drink this, it will help with the pain."


    She pressed the rim of the bowl against my lips.


    Something inside the liquid was moving. Should I drink it?


    Before I could decide, she pressed the bowl even more firmly against my lips.


    "Just drink it."


    Damn, so insistent.


    I opened my mouth and let the liquid slide down my throat. Bitter. Stronger than coffee.


    Then her hand began to glow with a faint red light. A small ball of fire appeared in her palm¡ªenough to illuminate our surroundings.


    Ah¡­ back in a cave again. How the hell did I end up here? Did that light save me? Impossible.


    "An unknown light saves the leader of the Four Souls of Pr¨®sopon." Ha. What a damn joke. Not even if I were paid would I believe it. Lights don¡¯t have that kind of power, do they?


    ...


    Now I could see her face. Beautiful. Blonde hair cascading softly over her shoulders, reflecting the firelight in gentle golden flashes. She shifted slightly to search for something, and when she turned back around, I found myself gazing into her eyes.


    Purple eyes, like lavender in full bloom.


    Damn. Why am I blushing?


    "Is something wrong?"


    "Eh? No, not at all."


    I looked away without even realizing it.


    Damn, she really is beautiful. I turned back to watch her.


    I could stare at her all day.


    "Hey¡­ what¡¯s up with your eyes? Wait, I think I have a remedy for that," she said, a little excited as she began rummaging for something behind her.


    "What? No, it¡¯s not necessary. It¡¯s not a disease, it¡¯s a skill," I replied quickly before she pulled out something useless to "cure" me.


    Well¡­ I guess having lifeless eyes with no pupils isn¡¯t exactly a skill¡­ But let¡¯s call it that for now.


    Finally, I sat up. The pain was slowly fading away, as if the wind were carrying it off. That liquid... it was definitely working.


    I glanced around. The woman who had helped me was no longer paying attention. Well, I suppose that¡¯s a good sign... or maybe she just doesn¡¯t care. Either way.


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    I scanned the cave. It was dark, cold, and had an atmosphere that was somewhat... menacing? And in the background, among the shadows, something made me blink a couple of times.


    Was that a scythe?


    Yes, it definitely was a scythe.


    That looks dangerous.


    Really dangerous.


    I took a deep breath and looked back at the woman. She didn¡¯t seem hostile, but you never know.


    "Who are you?" I asked firmly, even though inside I was as confused as a cat seeing its reflection for the first time.


    The woman opened her mouth... and nothing. Not a single sound. She looked up at me with a strange expression, as if caught in some inner dilemma.


    I said nothing. I waited. And finally, she spoke.


    "My name is Charlotta. Charlotta Rousgard. And... well... I think this is going to sound strange, but... I am your wife."


    My thoughts came to an abrupt halt.


    "What?"


    "Wife." I knew that word. I knew what it meant. I¡¯d heard it before, but... I can¡¯t recall in what context.


    "My wife?"


    "Yes, that''s it."


    "Wait. I don¡¯t even know you."


    "And I don¡¯t know you either," she replied coldly. "It¡¯s not something I like at all, but it¡¯s something I have to accept."


    "And how exactly do you know you¡¯re my wife?"


    My confusion grew. I mean, for a girl to just say "I''m your wife" out of the blue is like someone handing you a baby and saying, "Congratulations, it¡¯s yours." It¡¯s just hard to process so quickly.


    "It was your master," she said with a sigh. "He told me. He said that was my destiny. That I was meant to marry you... because that was my promise."


    There was something in her voice¡ªa slight tremor, a lack of conviction. She wasn¡¯t lying, but she didn¡¯t seem sure of her own words either.


    "Your promise?"


    "I know it sounds stupid. This is the first time we¡¯ve spoken, and it¡¯s impossible for him to have promised you anything. But... your master wasn¡¯t an ordinary man. So, even though I dislike it, I have to trust his words."


    I fell silent.


    I mean... it might have been easy to say, "Oh, well, then let¡¯s just accept it," but no. Having a wife isn¡¯t something to take lightly.


    There¡¯s a saying that goes, "A flower that grows in the shade never gets to shine."


    The same applies here.


    If it¡¯s a forced relationship, without love, then it won¡¯t flourish. Or at least, that¡¯s what I think.


    I sighed.


    "It''s going to take me a while to process this... I¡¯ll put it aside for now. There¡¯s something else that worries me. How did you end up here? There doesn¡¯t seem to be an exit."


    Charlotta looked at me intently, her brow furrowing slightly.


    "How did you figure out there¡¯s no exit? I never mentioned anything about it."


    "Oh, right. I didn¡¯t mention it, did I? My eyes can see the flow of mana in people and in everything, really. I can even tell if someone¡¯s mana is human or demonic. But in exchange... my eyes lose their pupils and any trace of life."


    She tilted her head.


    Yes, I¡¯d be confused too. Explaining this without sounding like a lunatic is complicated.


    "And thanks to being able to see the flow of mana in everything... I realized that the entire cave is covered in a strange kind of mana."


    I frowned.


    "What is this place?"


    Charlotta crossed her arms, looking pensive.


    "So how can you see?"


    "¡­"


    "¡­"


    We fell silent.


    How I can see...


    Well, honestly, I hadn''t thought about it. I just see. Don''t judge me, okay? It''s not as if I''ve read a treatise on human anatomy before going to war. I don''t even know exactly how sight works in normal people, so I''m even less likely to understand my own.


    "Well... I see the flow of everything. I just see, plain and simple. I can perceive the complete flow of mana in people, which basically encompasses everything¡ªtheir physical, mental, and spiritual form."


    Charlotta looked at me even more confused. Her expression was that of someone trying to solve a puzzle, but the pieces just didn¡¯t fit.


    Finally, she shook her head and furrowed her brow.


    "Wait. Are you telling me that you see nothing, yet at the same time you can see my physical form, my mana flow, and my spirituality?"


    ...Well, said like that, even I sound like a lunatic.


    "It''s hard to explain," I huffed. "These eyes are... almost like a curse. I can see like a normal person, but I also see the flows of mana, the mana dispersed throughout the environment, and people''s spiritual essence. It''s as if my vision has multiple layers, and I can choose which one to perceive at any moment."


    I folded my arms, but my body ached, so I simply dropped them and sighed.


    "Thanks to these eyes, I''ve found the weakness of many enemies. But they also bring me trouble... There are places where the mana flows are so dense, so chaotic, that they end up causing a stabbing pain in my head."


    Charlotta fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.


    "I understand..."


    Did she really understand? Because I certainly didn¡¯t.


    "So then? How do we get out of here?" I asked, crossing my arms.


    Talking about my eyes is... uncomfortable. It''s not a topic I can bring up lightly¡ªespecially considering how I got them.


    Charlotta didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, she turned without a word and walked straight to the scythe leaning against the wall. She took it with both hands... and then the scythe vanished.


    I blinked several times, perplexed.


    That magic... seems familiar to me. I know of storage abilities¡ªthe kind where you open a small hole in nothingness and store things in an invisible space. But this is different. There was no portal, no crack, nothing. It was as if the object simply vanished from reality itself.


    It was reminiscent of the technique of...


    "Whose?"


    ...I can''t remember.


    "I don''t know. I''ve been here for over a thousand years," she said suddenly.


    "A thousand years?" I repeated without thinking, as if my thoughts had taken control of my mouth.


    Charlotta nodded.


    "Yes..."


    "Are you immortal? Like me?"


    "What? No."


    ...Then, what the hell?


    I tilted my head, and before I knew it, a little cloud with a question mark floated above me, formed by magic.


    Charlotta sighed.


    "This place... as you saw, contains a vast amount of mana. That mana stops time at an atomic level, which means I don''t age, I don''t feel hunger or thirst... and I can''t be destroyed either."


    That sounded dangerous. Extremely dangerous.


    "This was created..." I began to say, but Charlotta interrupted me before I could finish.


    "By your master."


    Interrupting someone while they''re talking is rude. Kids, don''t do that.


    "Is that why the mana here is so unusual?"


    Yes, it was unusual. Very unusual. Mana normally has a greenish hue, similar to that of a caterpillar. But in this cave... it was white. White and brilliant.


    It gave me a strange feeling. Something I couldn''t quite describe.


    It was...


    It was something nostalgic.


    It was an oddly familiar feeling¡ªa distant echo of my childhood. It reminded me of those days when I would spar with my master, drenched in sweat, muscles trembling from the effort. Back then, my world was simple: train, endure the scoldings, and, if lucky, receive a pat on the back as recognition. I strove to exceed his expectations, to be stronger than the others... and for what? To save the world? Back then, I believed it. Now... well, now I''m not so sure.

 Outside

    Charlotta stepped out of the space we were in, and without thinking, I began to follow her. Right now, she¡¯s my little guide in this strange place. After all, if anyone knows where the exit is, it must be her¡­ right?


    Right?


    ¡°Hey¡­ do you know how we¡¯re getting out of here?¡± I asked, not holding much hope. ¡°I know there¡¯s no obvious exit, but your master must¡¯ve given you some kind of spell to break the temporal barrier around us¡­ or at least a magic word to teleport us out, right?¡±


    Charlotta shook her head, the movement barely noticeable. I fell silent¡ªnot so much because of her answer, but because of how absurdly terrible my master¡¯s preparations had been.


    Wait¡­ are you telling me he locked her in a time prison without leaving a single clue on how to escape?


    If he were here right now, I¡¯d punch him. No, scratch that. In all my years of training, I¡¯d only managed to land a hit once. And that was pure luck. Even now, if I tried, I doubt I¡¯d get more than three strikes in before he¡¯d slam me into the ground.


    ¡°Your master said you could figure this out on your own,¡± Charlotta said, stopping in front of a smooth stone wall and studying it intently.


    ¡°Figure it out,¡± huh? Come on, Jay. Think.


    I positioned myself directly in front of the wall, inspecting it. Nothing stood out. I tried to remember if my master had ever mentioned anything that could help¡­ but drew a blank.


    Damn it, what am I supposed to do? If he said I could solve this alone, there¡¯s gotta be something I can use, right?


    No choice. I¡¯ll try the first thing that comes to mind¡­ and pray it works, because I¡¯m running low on mana.


    I pressed my hands against the stone and let my energy flow. The surface warmed beneath my fingertips.


    Come on, come on¡­ work.


    The wall began to melt. Progress. But my mana was draining fast.


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    Nice. Once we¡¯re out of here, I deserve a feast fit for a king.


    My arm dropped to my side. Exhausted, but I¡¯d done it. Ahead of us now stretched a tunnel we could follow to the outside.


    ¡°This¡¯ll do. Fill your body with cold before entering¡ªit¡¯s still burning,¡± Charlotta instructed.


    ¡°Pretty impressive. But¡­ are you okay?¡± she asked, gripping my arm.


    Oh, so she noticed. My wobbling legs had probably given me away.


    ¡°Just need a little rest. It¡¯s nothing,¡± I said, smiling as if I actually believed my own words.


    Lie. What I really need is to sleep so hard I¡¯ll hopefully wake up in two days.


    But fine. That could wait. First, let¡¯s get out of this cursed cave.


    The path I¡¯d opened to escape the cave wasn¡¯t particularly long. In fact, calling it a ¡°tunnel¡± might be stretching it. I¡¯d expected it to take longer to reach the surface, especially since not even the faintest whisper of wind had reached us down there.


    Charlotta stepped out after me. The first thing I noticed was that the landscape seemed to stretch into a vast plain¡ªthough, to be honest, I didn¡¯t want to jump to conclusions.


    I didn¡¯t pay much attention to the surroundings. Instead, my eyes locked onto Charlotta. She¡¯d gone still, silently watching the sunrise.


    The sunlight brushed her face gently, and the wind tousled her hair.


    Yeah¡­ she must¡¯ve missed all this.


    Not that I didn¡¯t, too.


    For a moment, we shared the same quiet feeling. The warmth of the breeze, the golden glow of the sun¡­ sensations that felt all the more precious after being trapped in that place.


    And then I saw it.


    Tears began rolling slowly down her face.


    I walked over.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked, stopping directly in front of her.


    ¡°Hm? Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I just¡­ remembered my parents,¡± she said, her voice wavering ever so slightly. ¡°They¡¯re probably long gone by now, but¡­ I wish I could¡¯ve said goodbye.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    I didn¡¯t speak. I just acted.


    Before overthinking it, I wrapped my arms around her, offering what little comfort I could. She didn¡¯t pull away. Instead, she clung to me and let her tears flow.


    I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to miss a parent. Mine were never part of my life.


    All I know is this: my mother was the wife of Belzebub, brother of the Demon King Astaroth. And my father¡­ a mere human. A slave of Belzebub.


    Yep. Exactly.


    My mother slept with her husband¡¯s slave.


    Life¡¯s full of ironies.


    Thanks to that genetic cocktail, I¡¯m called a half-breed. Or an abomination. But it¡¯s also what gave me my Ryujin form.


    Either way, I don¡¯t feel the need to thank them. The moment I was born, they shipped me off to train to ¡°liberate the world from Astaroth.¡±


    There was someone I might have considered a father figure: my master.


    But in the end, I never saw him as a parent. More like an older brother.


    Not that I miss him much, either.


    I don¡¯t even remember his face clearly. Just fragments of our training¡­


    Oh, and his personality.


    Immature, childish, generous, talented, sarcastic¡­


    ¡­


    Wait.


    I¡¯m just describing myself.


    Oh, come on!