《The End Writer》 The beginning The beginning -------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where am I?" I woke up suddenly in a white room adorned with glowing dragon-like engravings, illuminated in an unknown¡ªperhaps magical¡ªmanner. It was called the Summoning Room; I read its name despite not knowing this world''s language. Someone quickly answered my question: "Welcome, hero, to our beloved kingdom. I am the king¡ªyou may call me Alexander." I was shocked¡ªor rather, I pretended to be. The king continued, "We have summoned you to save us from the approaching evil. What is your name, young man?" The king was a man of strong build, exuding both majesty and kindness. There was no word to describe him other than a true king. He had piercing red eyes, a well-groomed beard, and a royal suit embroidered and adorned with gold. The boy hesitated before answering, "I... I don''t remember." Everyone was surprised. "You don''t remember? No matter, we shall call you ''Hero'' for now. If you wish, we can give you a name." He then turned to one of his men, who was dressed in a priest''s attire, and commanded, "Sinister, take the hero on a tour." He then looked at me and added, "This is Sinister. He is the one who summoned you, and he was quite eager to show you around." After exchanging greetings, he began guiding me through the castle. The hallways were wide, illuminated by the same mysterious magic. I wondered how they managed to light them. Suddenly, he turned to me and asked, "Sir Endscribe, didn''t the Great Author give you a name?" I replied, "He did... but I forgot it." He responded quickly, "How could you forget... never mind. But do not forget your role again¡ªany mistake could cause your mission to fail." "Alright, alright, no need to get angry. Using multiple names is difficult. Can''t I just stick to one?" "You are an Endscribe¡ªyou have no name, only a single mission. Understood?" "I know, just be quiet. Someone might hear us." "In a month, the Hero''s Sword Selection Ceremony will take place. You should prepare. By the way, do we need to find someone to teach you this world''s language?" "No need for that. Don''t you know? One of the perks of being an Endscribe is that I can read all the languages of all worlds." "How is that possible?" This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "I don¡¯t know either." Suddenly, a loud voice echoed through the hallway. "Sinister!" Two figures appeared¡ªa young man with black hair, blue eyes, and a white robe fitting for a prince, alongside a beautiful girl with golden hair and identical blue eyes, wearing a green dress adorned with flowers. Sinister spoke up, "Your Highnesses, what brings you here?" "We came to see the hero," the prince replied. The girl followed, "How could you not tell us about his arrival?" "It was the king¡¯s orders," Sinister explained. The prince frowned. "Why would my father keep us from meeting the hero?" "You¡¯ll understand once you see him," Sinister responded. The princess turned her gaze toward me. "Who is that behind you?" "This is the hero," Sinister stated. Both siblings spoke in unison. "What?" "Hero, this is Princess Lisia and the first prince Ronald," Sinister introduced them. I awkwardly stammered, "Uh... H-hello." "How could someone this ugly be the hero?" the princess scoffed. "I doubt he can even lift a sword," Ronald added. Sinister sighed, "This is exactly why the king didn¡¯t tell you. The hero needs time to develop his strength. As for his appearance¡­ well, there¡¯s no fixing that. But he''s not that bad." Is my appearance really that terrible...? "I won¡¯t accept him as the hero unless I test his strength," Ronald declared. "His presence here is based on a random summoning. How can I trust him?" What an arrogant prince. I thought to myself. Once I get used to this world''s power, I''ll show him. Sinister intervened, "The hero needs training. He comes from a world without mana." Lisia raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "And how did you know that?" "Oh, Princess, were you not listening? We were having a conversation, and he told me himself," Sinister replied casually. Lisia nodded in understanding. "Then he''s useless. Why not take him to the Evaluation Chamber and see his abilities?" Ronald smirked. "That¡¯s actually a good idea. Let¡¯s go." ****************** Meanwhile, in the Summoning Hall... "Your Majesty, did you not feel something strange about the hero?" "Strange? In what way?" "He didn''t seem surprised¡­ or rather, he was pretending to be surprised." "I''m not following." "I can¡¯t explain it well, but he looked... accustomed to this." "We don¡¯t know what kind of life he¡¯s lived. Especially considering that he forgot his own name, we shouldn¡¯t judge too quickly, Raphael." As we walked through the corridors toward the Evaluation Chamber, Sinister suddenly began using telepathic communication. ¨C Sir Endscribe, is something wrong? ¨C Sinister, tell me about the princes. ¨C Alright. First, there''s Prince Ronald. He¡¯s talented, strong, and takes responsibility for Princess Lisia, the king¡¯s only daughter. She¡¯s not particularly strong, and she enjoys mocking people, but she¡¯s usually kind. Actually, all the princes are¡ª ¨C "The princes are kind"? That¡¯s the dumbest thing I¡¯ve heard. ¨C They are kind, but they¡¯re just wary of having a stranger in the castle. ¨C Hah. You have a point. Alright, are there only two princes? ¨C No, there¡¯s also the second prince, the one you saw standing beside the king. ¨C Who? ¨C ¡­You didn¡¯t notice him? His name is Raphael. He¡¯s sharp, perceptive, and the most dangerous prince. You need to be cautious around him. ¨C And the third prince? ¨C Oh, him? He¡¯s a failure. No need to worry about him¡ªoh, looks like we¡¯ve arrived. Suddenly, a voice greeted us. "Hello, brother. Is this the hero?" "How did you know?" Sinister asked. Lisia smirked. "Trash recognizes its own kind." Ouch. I¡¯m starting to feel bad for this guy. The third prince stepped forward. "Welcome, hero. My name is Ryan. May I ask for yours?" "Uh¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t remember," I replied. "You don¡¯t remember? That¡¯s strange¡­ Can you tell me about the world you came from?" Feeling uneasy, I answered, "Maybe later. I need to get to the Evaluation Chamber first." "Alright. Good luck." As we resumed walking, I resumed my telepathic conversation with Sinister. ¨C Didn''t you say he was just a failure? ¨C Yeah. Why? ¨C That guy is dangerous. He was analyzing my behavior and even tried to read my memories using his ability. I also felt a familiar aura from him, but I can¡¯t remember where. Every fiber of my being is telling me to run. ¨C Impossible. He doesn¡¯t have an ability. ¨C It may seem that way, but I¡¯m certain he does. I need to avoid him as much as possible. Upon arriving at the Evaluation Chamber, I pretended to be surprised. The room was huge, but only about a quarter the size of the rooms where Endscribes were gathered. There were intricate engravings on the walls and a massive crystal, roughly the size of two grown men. "Welcome, Your Highnesses. May we ask why you''ve come? And who is this peasant?" Peasant? Sinister replied, "This is the hero. He was summoned recently and hasn¡¯t had time to change his clothes." I glanced down at my outfit¡ªit was simple, neither fancy nor ragged. "Oh, the hero? My apologies, I didn¡¯t mean to offend, but¡­ your face looks like a peasant¡¯s." Lisia burst into laughter, and Ronald barely held back his own. I¡¯ll remember this. And one day, I¡¯ll get my payback. Sinister cut in, "We came to evaluate his ability." "Of course. Place your hand here." Feeling tense, I placed my hand on the transparent crystal, eager to discover my ability. Suddenly, a surge of power coursed through my body, and inside the crystal, storms raged, lightning crackled, and whirlwinds howled. "Incredible! Hero, you possess the ability of Calamities!" "Is that powerful?" I asked. Ronald scoffed. "It¡¯s average." What?! Sinister reassured me, "It''s not average. It¡¯s rare, and if developed properly, it can be extremely powerful. However, mastering it is difficult. It allows you to control natural disasters¡ªhurricanes, earthquakes, lightning, and water." He then spoke to me telepathically: ¨C Do you truly know nothing about this world, or have you forgotten again? I won¡¯t always be here to assist you. My role ends when you either win or lose the Ceremony of the Hero¡¯s Sword. ¨C The great writer only told us that there¡¯s a sword we must fight for, and the winner takes on the mission. That¡¯s all he said. Ronald arrogantly interjected, dismissing Sinister¡¯s explanation, "**I believe I should have been the hero. After all, I possess the legendary ability¡ªBoundless Darkness." Ugh. I really am surrounded by idiots. But it doesn¡¯t matter. I won¡¯t be staying here long. All I need to do is complete my mission. The Heros Sword Selection Ceremony - Part 1 The Hero''s Sword Selection Ceremony - Part 1 ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C "I believe I was the one most deserving of becoming the hero. After all, I possess the legendary ability Limitless Darkness." Suddenly, the entire room trembled. A powerful presence overwhelmed us, shaking the ground simply by standing. A deep, serious voice called out, "Ronald." It was the king. I felt the terrifying aura emanating from him, paralyzing me on the spot. Then, as quickly as it had come, the oppressive pressure subsided. I let out a sigh of relief and continued watching the scene from a distance. "Ronald, this is not how a prince should behave. You know this better than anyone." "Father... I-I''m sorry." "Hah. Hero, I apologize for my son''s behavior. He''s just tense." "It''s alright, sir. I understand his caution. Trusting someone you¡¯ve just met is not easy." "Thank you for your understanding." The king studied me for a moment before speaking again. "By the way, the Hero¡¯s Sword Selection Ceremony will take place in a month. You should train your ability in the meantime. Speaking of which, have you discovered what it is?" Sinister answered in my place. "He has. It''s the rare ability, Catastrophe." "Oh? That¡¯s excellent. This ability will give you an advantage in the ceremony. It''s the strongest at all levels, though its drawback is that it''s difficult to develop." I nodded, not quite understanding. Sinister explained further, "Let me put it this way. If we compare Catastrophe to Limitless Darkness, Catastrophe will be stronger at level one. However, if leveling Catastrophe up to level two takes a week, Limitless Darkness would only take four days. This means that over time, Limitless Darkness will surpass Catastrophe. Do you understand?" "Ah, yeah... But what are the requirements for leveling up?" "I don''t know either. You''ll have to figure that out on your own. Also, each person has unique requirements." The king continued after Sinister finished speaking. "By the way, we need to find someone to train you." Ronald immediately stepped forward. "Father, leave that to me!" "Are you sure? It could be tough." "I''ll do whatever it takes to help the hero win the ceremony." "Hmm¡­ Alright. Sinister, take them to the training grounds." A bad feeling crept up inside me. This was going to be painful¡­ Fortunately, we didn¡¯t have to leave the assessment area, as the training grounds were directly connected to it via a magical door that opened as we approached. I had seen something similar in a previous world, but back then, it was technology rather than magic. Its proximity to the assessment area allowed me to avoid running into Ryan. Upon entering the training grounds, I was genuinely shocked. This time, I wasn''t pretending. The sight before me was truly astonishing. The arena had every tool and piece of equipment imaginable. The ground was sandy, kept from spreading throughout the castle by magic, while the white walls were adorned with intricate carvings of a fierce battle between warriors. Curious, I asked, "Who are these two?" A voice answered¡ªit was Licia Talia. "The one wielding the black sword is our family''s great ancestor, Altherion. Our kingdom was named after him." "And the other, the one with the crimson sword?" "One of the ancient Seven Catastrophes¡ªSolarin, the Calamity of the Sun." "The Calamity of the Sun?" "A Calamity is a title given to entities or individuals possessing immense power, capable of destroying an entire land." "So, does that mean King Altherion was also a Calamity?" King Alexander answered, "No. Defeating a Calamity doesn¡¯t mean one has the power to destroy lands. However, Altherion did something different. After his battle with the Calamity of the Sun, he founded this kingdom on the ruins of that fight." He sighed before continuing, "Alright, Sinister and I will take our leave. Ronald, train the hero well, but don''t be too harsh on him." "Understood." I wanted to ask the king more about the Calamities and whether Altherion had truly won his battle, but I hesitated. The weight of the moment still lingered. After the king left, Ronald turned to me. "Thank you." "For what?" "Never mind." He then said, "Now, I need to train you. Get ready." He gestured toward a room in the center of the arena. "We¡¯ll be training in there." As we stepped inside, the room was pitch black and featureless. I examined its details. Simulation Room: capable of replicating any environment with 90% accuracy and withstanding damage equivalent to a high-level mana crystal explosion. I estimated that to be about the same as a fully loaded fuel tanker detonating. Ronald handed me a sword. "Take this." I accepted the weapon and got into position. He attacked first. My sword flew out of my hands from the sheer force of his strike. "You''re weak." "I don¡¯t know how to coat my sword with mana." "You¡¯ll figure it out after a few more hits." He attacked again. I picked up my sword and dodged his blows over and over. Gradually, I adapted to his attacks and began to sense the flow of mana. "Hmm. You learn fast," he said with a smirk. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Of course. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll die." I coated my sword with mana and struck. Clank! Our swords clashed repeatedly, faster and faster. I infused my body with mana, growing more adept at using it. "Good. Now, try blocking this, Hero." He launched a simple thrust. I dodged it and countered, but suddenly¡ª Shlick! Pain shot through my stomach and shoulder. Darkness appeared in front of me, blocking my strike while simultaneously attacking me. Ronald spoke. "Did you forget that I have an ability?" I looked at him. "What was that?" "This is my ability, Limitless Darkness. It allows me to teleport instantly, redirect my attacks, and store my belongings in a separate space. You need to analyze your opponent''s ability before charging in. Now get up¡ªthis is where the real training begins." By the end of the session, my body was battered and bruised. I could barely stand. "Are you alright?" Licia asked. I replied, "Not in the best condition." "Here." She handed me a strange fruit that resembled an apple. "What is this?" "Eat it. It will heal your wounds." I smiled and said, "Thanks." I took a bite. "Don¡¯t get the wrong idea¡ªI just don¡¯t want you to die." Ronald suddenly interjected, "You did well." "Really?" "Yeah. Not many can keep up with my swordplay, even without my ability. You have talent. I think you¡¯re worthy of the Hero title." "Thanks for the compliment, but I barely managed to keep up with your ability." "Speaking of which, you never used yours." "Yeah¡­ I have no idea how to activate it." "Alright. Tomorrow, we''ll focus on unlocking your ability and learning how to use it." Suddenly, another person entered the conversation. "It seems you''ve all gotten along quite well." He was a thin man with an intellectual face, dressed like Ronald. Lysia said, "What brings you here, Raphael?" "I came to see the hero. Is that a problem?" "Wouldn''t it be better to finish your work instead of wandering around?" "Look who''s talking! I''ve already finished my work, you spoiled brat." "That''s enough!" Ronald shouted in a commanding voice. They both responded simultaneously, "Sorry." He might seem the smartest, but he couldn''t compare to his brother, Ryan. "By the way, can I guide the hero to his room?" Raphael asked. "Why?" Ronald questioned. "I''d like to talk to him for a bit. I''m the only one who hasn''t yet." While guiding me to my room, he kept rambling about the kingdom, his siblings, and how he ended up with most of the responsibilities while Lysia and Ryan barely received any tasks. Suddenly, I asked, "Why was I summoned?" He turned to me in shock. "Didn''t my father tell you? You''re supposed to save us from evil." "What is this evil, and what is its nature?" "A being that seeks to destroy the world. That''s what the priests said, including Sinister." "Why me, specifically?" "I don''t know. Sinister chose you. You should ask him." "I can''t." "Huh? Why not?" "I''m a little afraid... Afraid of how others will react when they see my hesitation. I felt like I could trust you, so I asked you." "You''re not the only summoned hero." "What?" "There are other heroes you will face in the Hero¡¯s Sword Selection Ceremony." "I was about to ask you about that¡­ Does this mean I''m not forced to be the hero?" "No, you''re not. But we have high hopes for you." "But this isn''t my world, and I barely know you all." "You can withdraw at any time as long as you don¡¯t win the ceremony." Suddenly, we stopped walking. "Here we are. This is your room." "Thank you." "No need to thank me. By the way, if you need anything, you can ask me. Alright, goodnight." "Goodnight." I entered the room and lay down on the bed, a smile spreading across my face. After a while, I contacted Sinister. ¡ª "How did it go?" ¡ª "It worked, sir. The second prince is completely fooled and no longer suspects you." In the King''s Chamber The room was small but adorned with numerous artifacts and golden relics. Inside were three men: King Alexander, the priest Sinister, and Prince Raphael. The king asked, "So, how did your meeting go?" With a confused expression, Raphael replied, "You were right, Father. He¡¯s just scared." Sinister interjected, "May I ask what you''re talking about?" "Raphael suspected that the hero was hiding something." "Something like what?" "He said he''s used to being summoned." Sinister was shocked. "U-Used to it?! What do you mean?" "It was just speculation," Raphael said. The Next Day I was back in the training room with Ronald and the Knight Commander, Reinhard Flintstone. "Now, I will train you on how to use your ability," Ronald said. I responded, "Understood. But how?" "It''s the same way you use mana, but instead of enveloping your body, you envelop your mind." "That simple?" "Yes, but applying it is difficult. First, you need to¡­" I tried to focus my mana to cover my mind, but suddenly, I started coughing up blood and collapsed unconscious. "Hey! I warned you. It¡¯s difficult. You should have waited for me to finish explaining!" Ronald scolded. "Sir, I don''t think the cause of the bleeding was failure but mana depletion," Reinhard commented. "What?" Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Ronald quickly picked me up and rushed out of the room. He was shocked by the terrifying scene¡ª the training field was destroyed, and a massive earthquake had shattered the ground. Regaining his composure, he started directing the soldiers. "Men, ensure you get out of the area! If there¡¯s an injured person near you, carry them. If it¡¯s a corpse, leave it!" He tossed me toward the knight commander. "Take him out of here." "What about you, sir?" "I must save whoever I can. It''s my responsibility!" Using his technique, he began rescuing the remaining soldiers, even as he coughed up blood from overexertion. He didn¡¯t stop until he saved everyone he could and became the last survivor to leave. He collapsed unconscious. Fortunately, the earthquake was confined to the training grounds, which had completely sunk as if they never existed. The wounded were taken for medical treatment. While Unconscious I dreamt of an endless sea of corpses, all staring at me with furious eyes, yearning for my death. This dream was familiar. I saw it every night. In the Hospital Room I woke up in a hospital bed. Looking around, I saw Ronald lying on the bed next to me. For some reason, I felt concerned. "Ronald?" No, I shouldn''t worry. In the end, I am the one who will end this world. "Ronald?" "Shut up, I''m trying to sleep," he grumbled. "Are you okay?" "I was, until I heard your voice." "What happened?" "Your power went out of control, and you collapsed from mana depletion." "Did anyone get hurt?" "A lot." I was shocked. "R-Really? How many?" "Ten dead. Twenty-five severely injured." Why do I feel this way? I have destroyed many worlds before. I have killed countless people with my own hands. Why do I feel guilty now? "Don''t make that pale face. You''re making me feel bad." "I''m sorry." "It''s natural¡ª!?" "I''m sorry. I''m sorry. I''m sorry. I''m sorry." "Calm down! It''s not entirely your fault. I should have considered the possibility of your power going out of control." Suddenly, someone else entered the room. "Has the hero awakened?" A woman in her 30s walked in. She had black hair and a strong sense of justice. "I am Mary, the Vice Commander of the Knights. I have come to take the hero to trial for his crime." Trial? Ronald remained calm, as if he already knew this was coming. As for me, I showed no reaction. My face was cold and lifeless. I glanced at her briefly with emotionless eyes, then looked down. I was then taken to court to determine my punishment. The judges were nobles of the kingdom, and the calls for my execution echoed in the hall. "Silence!" one judge ordered. Another continued, "The trial of the hero will now begin for all his crimes, including the killing and injury of soldiers, as well as the destruction of the kingdom''s property." "Hero, do you have anything to say in your defense?" I didn¡¯t answer. It was as if I was in another world. From another corner of the room, a voice spoke¡ªRonald. "I object!" "Why, Prince Firstborn?" "The hero didn¡¯t choose to destroy the training grounds or kill the soldiers. That was my fault. I failed to consider the possibility of his power going out of control. I will take responsibility." "Sorry, but we cannot take your word as proof. What if he did it on purpose?" "On purpose? Look at his face. He looks pitiful." "What if he¡¯s just acting?" Meanwhile, I was lost in thought. I am the Endscribe. My mission is to destroy worlds, and I have done so hundreds, even thousands of times. Yet, why do I still feel human emotions? Suddenly, I spoke. "I will be the hero¡­" "I will win the ceremony, become the hero, and complete the mission." The king then declared, "I will personally take responsibility for repairing the damage and compensating for the losses." The judge hesitated, "But, Your Majesty¡ª" "What''s the problem? We summoned him, so we must bear responsibility. Am I wrong?" "No, you''re not." "Then the matter is settled. However, to prevent further incidents, you will be sent to the kingdom¡¯s borders for training." I replied, "Understood." After a while, I was transferred to the kingdom''s borders. 28 days remained until the Hero¡¯s Sword Selection Ceremony. "Hero, we will begin training now," said Ronald. I replied, "Now? We just arrived." Sinister added, "The sooner we start, the higher your chances of winning." "It seems those words you gave were just illusions," said Licia. "Why did Licia come with us?" I asked in a frustrated tone. "The kingdom¡¯s borders have the best scenery, so this is basically a vacation for me," she answered. Ronald said, "Every day is a vacation for you." Then he turned to me, "Now, draw your sword and face me." "Hah¡­ fine." The training continued. The first day, the fifth, the tenth, the twenty-first, until the twenty-seventh. "Clang!" My sword clashed against Ronald¡¯s, and we were both pushed back by the shockwave. He launched wind slashes, but I dodged them. His attacks kept flying at me. I cloaked my body in lightning and moved away from the attack path. I canceled the lightning transformation, pulled water into the air, then reactivated the lightning and used the falling water droplets to predict the trajectory of the attacks. "You¡¯ve become skilled," Ronald remarked. I replied, "I have a great teacher." Gathering all my electrical energy, I launched toward Ronald. He infused his sword with dark energy and charged at me as well. At the moment of impact, a massive explosion occurred, blinding our vision with white light. When it cleared, the result of the battle was revealed¡ªboth of our swords were broken. We sat on the ground to rest. "A draw. You¡¯ve improved a lot, hero," said Sinister. "Indeed¡­ but what about my vacation?" Licia added. I said, "You talk as if you were the one training." "You destroyed everything; there are no beautiful views left," she complained. "There you are!" A voice called from a distance. It was Commander Reinhard, accompanied by his deputy, Mary. "It¡¯s been a while. Looks like you¡¯ve completely changed the terrain," he said. Sinister asked, "Reinhard, what brings you here?" "It¡¯s been 27 days. Tomorrow is the ceremony." Ronald said, "It seems we lost track of time." "I didn¡¯t," Licia muttered. "Alright, everyone, enough wasting time. We need to prepare to head to the arena," Mary instructed. On the way, Reinhard asked, "By the way, hero, I want to know about your ability." "My ability?" "The thing that changed the terrain of this place." "Well, I can control four elements: wind, water, lightning, and earth. Each element has its own unique use." "Lightning can be used as a catastrophe, or I can coat my body with it like mana. Wind can''t be used as a catastrophe, but it can be used for attack or defense. Water can only be used as a catastrophe, but I can release it anywhere. Earth can also only be used as a catastrophe." "Hmm¡­ that sounds a bit complicated." "Unfortunately, I haven''t been able to develop it further." "That¡¯s normal. Catastrophe-class abilities are the hardest to develop." Licia interrupted, "Oh, look!" It was the massive structure where the Hero¡¯s Sword Selection Ceremony would take place. A colossal building resembling a colosseum. They all gazed at its majestic form in awe. ¡ª Lord Endscribe. ¡ª Yes, Sinister? ¡ª Are you nervous? ¡ª A little. I''m nervous about how strong the other Endscribes will be. Seven other heroes had been summoned besides me. In truth, they weren¡¯t heroes at all¡ªthey were also Endscribe, summoned to different kingdoms apart from Altherion. I muttered under my breath, "It seems things are going to get difficult from here on out." The Hero’s Sword Selection Ceremony 2 The Hero¡¯s Sword Selection Ceremony 2 ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C "Hero, this way." One of the supervisors guided me to the waiting room. He opened the door for me, and my eyes met theirs. The room was white, adorned with intricate decorations on the walls and ceiling, and the lighting was more beautiful than anything I had seen in the Kingdom of Altherion. There were also several luxurious chairs. "Oh, he¡¯s here." I shot him an angry glare and thought to myself, This idiot is going to expose us. "Oh? Do you two know each other, heroes?" "No, this is my first time seeing him," I replied quickly and entered the room. The supervisor looked at us with suspicion before closing the door and leaving. I read through the list of names: 1. Valdron ¨C Hero: Ragnar, a foolish man obsessed with strength. 2. Iltexa ¨C Heroine: Nova, a commanding girl who values order and follows instructions. 3. Arkanthia ¨C Heroine: Selina, a cheerful girl who resembles Lesia in personality. 4. Zervin ¨C Hero: Isaac, an intelligent and strategic individual, but he doesn''t compare to me. 5. Mordiath ¨C Hero: Kyle, a kind person who always prioritizes his own interests. 6. Astrafin ¨C Hero: Victor, an arrogant, selfish man, yet strong and cunning. 7. Termagus ¨C Heroine: Alice, I don¡¯t know much about her, but I despise her. 8. Altherion ¨C Hero: The Hero Once we confirmed we were alone, Isaac spoke. "The Hero? Did you not have another name?" Nova added, "You can''t change the name given to you by the Great Author." "I just forgot it," I replied. Both of them responded in unison, "What?!" Another voice chimed in¡ªit was Ragnar. "That''s exactly what I''d expect from this idiot." I retorted, "Who¡¯s the idiot? The one who almost exposed us?" Kyle then spoke, "None of you will be able to write the ending." Alice responded, "And will you?" Kyle sighed. "I don¡¯t know. Generations of End Writers have failed before us. Are we special? Will our result be any different?" He continued, "Maybe we should just give up. We don¡¯t even know the purpose of destroying these worlds." Victor scoffed, "Are you questioning the orders of the Great Author?" "No, I don¡¯t mean to doubt them. But haven¡¯t you all wondered¡ªwhat is the purpose of the End Writer? Why do we destroy worlds?" I answered immediately, "We all have, but this is our duty, and we must fulfill it." Ragnar crossed his arms. "Only you two have asked that question." "By the way, what''s wrong with her?" I asked, pointing at Selina. Her expression was empty, her face pale, and her body bore marks of bruises and burns. "We don¡¯t know. She¡¯s been like that since we met her. But don''t worry, this works in our favor. The competition will be between seven, not eight," Victor said. I glared at him. "Are you an idiot? She¡¯s one of us. We can''t just leave her like this." I stepped closer. "Selina, what¡¯s wrong?" I began shaking her gently. Selina flinched and backed away quickly. Alice sneered, "What a coward." "Shut up!" I snapped at her. Suddenly, Selina bolted out of the room. "Wait!" "Let her go. Why do you care? This benefits you anyway," Isaac said. "If you were in her place, would you say the same thing?" I shot back. Isaac was taken aback. I continued, "I would do the same for any of you. I can''t abandon someone in need." Ragnar smirked. "That¡¯s just like you, the Great Author¡¯s spoiled child." Ragnar was someone I had known for a long time. He had always been foolish, but before becoming an End Writer, he was kind. That¡¯s what irritated me. I rushed out, following Selina¡¯s tracks until I found her sitting at the bottom of the stairs. I approached quietly and sat beside her. "Are you ready to talk now?" She mumbled something inaudible and remained silent. I waited and waited until she finally spoke. "Go away." "I can¡¯t. You need help." She didn¡¯t respond. I spoke again, "Is it about the Kingdom of Arkanthia?" Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She nodded silently. ¨C Sinister ¨C Sir, what¡¯s wrong? ¨C I want to know everything about Arkanthia. ¨C It¡¯s the kingdom of science and energy. But why do you ask? ¨C Did they, by any chance, conduct experiments on humans? ¨C There are rumors about that, but nothing confirmed. ¨C Thanks. ¨C Anytime. Let me know if you need anything else. ¨C Actually, I have another request. "From what I¡¯ve deduced, they conducted inhumane experiments on you. Is that right?" As expected, she didn¡¯t answer. She looked pitiful, nothing like an End Writer. "Can I read your past?" Past Reading is an ability I possess that allows me to experience a person''s past from a chosen moment to another. The downside is that I feel their emotions¡ªpain, joy, sorrow¡ªbut not as intensely as the other Writers'' abilities. I placed my hand on her head and activated my ability. In an instant, I was transported¡ªor rather, Selina was¡ªto a laboratory filled with human and non-human bodies inside glass chambers filled with a strange liquid. I kept reading and lived through all the experiments as if I were in her place¡ªall the electrocutions, the surgeries. The pain was real. The despair, the suffering. But even after experiencing it all, it didn''t break me as it did her. Maybe my will was just stronger than hers. When it was over, I had more than enough information¡ªabout Selina''s power, the person responsible for the experiments, the chips implanted in her head to control her, and most importantly, the secret weapon being developed. ¨C Sinister, there¡¯s someone I want you to eliminate. ¨C Someone you want me to eliminate? ¨C Aldric Vailhart. ¨C May I ask why? ¨C Revenge. I placed my hand on Selina''s head and sent a weak electric charge¡ªstrong enough to destroy the chips but not to harm her. "Why are you doing this?" Surprised by her question, I replied, "Consider it a debt. Repay it someday." "Thank you." I smiled. "Don¡¯t mention it." Somewhere else... "Your Majesty, I wish to see the Hero for a moment. He must be nervous, and I also need to brief him on some things." "Very well, Sinister. You may leave." At the same time, in the Kingdom of Arkanthia, Aldric Vailhart realized he had lost connection with the Heroine. "This is impossible! How?!" "What¡¯s wrong, Aldric?" "Your Majesty, I¡¯ve lost connection with the Heroine. I must investigate immediately!" This is my chance to get rid of him. I followed them silently, waiting for the right moment to strike. But he had two guards with him. Suddenly, we encountered Selina and the Hero. "Aldric Vailhart, what does this mean?" Selina demanded. "I should be asking you that," he responded. "And who are you?" he asked, looking at me. "The Hero of Altherion." Selina drew her sword and pointed it at Aldric. I stepped in front of her. "Wait. You can¡¯t kill him." "Oh, I can. And I will." In an instant, the two guards were sliced in half. Flames engulfed their remains, leaving nothing behind. "You''re Sinister from Altherion, aren¡¯t you?" "You¡¯ve got sharp eyes." I turned to Sinister. "Didn¡¯t I ask you to eliminate him?" "I didn¡¯t find the right opportunity until now." Aldric smirked. "He likely has a device that sends an alert if he¡¯s harmed." "Sharp thinking," I admitted. "Now, will you allow me to disable your devices?" "I don¡¯t think so." He pulled out a strange device, but I charged a knife with lightning and threw it, disabling it before he could press the button. He then pulled out a gun, aiming at us, but I activated Lightning Transformation and instantly shattered his weapon into tiny pieces. "Is that all you''ve got?" He desperately reached for something in his pocket, but Selina was faster¡ªshe sliced his hand off. "Hel¨C!" Before he could finish his plea, I slashed his throat, cutting his vocal cords along with a portion of his neck. "Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t die until I¡¯m done talking," I said, stepping closer. "Is it fun to hurt people?" I asked, but he remained silent. I shouted, "Aldric Vailhart, is it fun to hurt people?!" I turned to Selina. "He¡¯s yours." Selina stood before him. "People like you deserve to suffer, but I¡¯m merciful, so I¡¯ll end this quickly." Aldric tried to crawl away, leaving a trail of blood behind. She raised her sword and decapitated him. Sinister then burned his body to ash, erasing any trace of his existence. "The alarm was supposed to activate Quick. We need to leave before we''re discovered," Selina said, and we rushed to the waiting room. Standing at the door, we caught our breaths. Suddenly, Selina spoke. "Hero, thank you again. I¡¯ll make sure to repay this favor someday." "It''s nothing. It''s my duty." "Duty? I did all the work," Sinister said. "Sorry, thank you, Sinister." "Gratitude isn¡¯t enough. You must not let your emotions interfere with the mission," he continued. "And you, you need to endure the pain. Otherwise, you won¡¯t survive. Don¡¯t let a little pain affect your mission." "I¡¯ll make sure of that. Thank you both." For the first time, I saw Selina smile before she entered the waiting room. I remained outside, speaking with Sinister. "Hero, how much do you know about Selina?" "Everything since she entered this world." "Is that also a power of the End Writer?" "Every End Writer has a unique ability that distinguishes them from the others. It can be combat-related, analytical, or mental." "And yours?" "Mental. But it hasn''t been very useful. In the 300 years I¡¯ve lived, I¡¯ve only used it six times." Sinister was shocked. "Three hundred years?! I thought you were 28! Do End Writers live that long?" "Even longer, usually." "Did you spend every day destroying worlds?" "Yes, except for the first year of our lives, when the Great Writer teaches us about the worlds and how to end them." "May I ask, sir... why do you destroy the worlds?" I fell silent for a moment before answering, "Even I don¡¯t know." "What?" I recalled an old memory from my first year before I became an End Writer. "Great Writer! Great Writer!" I was a child in a classroom filled with other children who would one day become End Writers. "Yes? What do you wish to ask?" the Great Writer said with a smile. I eagerly asked, "Why do End Writers destroy worlds?" "Hmm¡­ I wonder why?" He continued, "Do you really want to hear the answer?" "Yes!" "Alright then, follow me." He took me away from the others, ensuring no one else could hear. "You want to know the reason? Then listen carefully," he said, kneeling so that his face was level with mine. "The reason is ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö." I couldn¡¯t hear his words. It was as if the world itself rejected them. Nosebleed. Suddenly, my nose bled, and I lost consciousness. "I don¡¯t remember anything after that." Suddenly, we heard footsteps coming from the hallway. It was the soldiers of the Arcanthia Kingdom. One of them shouted, "You two! Identify yourselves!" "I am Sinister, priest of Aetherion, and this is the Hero," Sinister replied. "Shouldn¡¯t you be by the king¡¯s side?" Sinister answered, "The Hero needed some advice, so I came to speak with him. Is something wrong?" "The signal of Drake Vielhart has vanished. We suspect he has been assassinated." "What? Impossible! No one could be assassinated in this place! Are you certain he''s dead?" "Yes. We found his teleportation device stabbed and disabled." "Who could have done this?" "We don¡¯t know. We will ask the Heroine, as she was at the scene." I quickly interjected, "No, she was here the whole time. Maybe your devices are malfunctioning." "How dare you insult our technology? Do you have any idea how much each unit costs?" "Then its creator disabled it and fled." "Impossible! Why would he run away? He is¡­!" "He is?" "Ah¡­ nothing. We¡¯ll leave for now. We are not allowed to disturb the Heroes under any circumstances." I dropped my playful tone and spoke in a voice that shook the corridor. "You were about to say he enjoys torturing people in his experiments, weren¡¯t you?" "What? How¡ª" I stepped closer. "Is it fun?" I grabbed his neck and lifted him. "Is hurting people really this enjoyable?" His face turned purple. Sinister placed a hand on my shoulder. "Enough, Hero." I released his throat and looked at his comrades. "Tell your people to stay out of my sight. I don¡¯t want to see anyone from Arcanthia again." I turned away and walked back to the waiting room. After saying goodbye to Sinister, I stepped inside. I sat in my seat¡ª a luxurious and comfortable chair, something I had needed ever since I started training with Ronald. I looked to my side¡ª Ragnar was sitting next to me, and on the other side was Kyle. In front of me sat Selena, with Nova and Isaac beside her. At the far end of the room, Victor and Alice remained silent. The atmosphere was tense, but I didn¡¯t care. I closed my eyes, trying to get some rest. Then, my senses started kicking in, and their auras seeped into my consciousness. Wait¡­ this aura¡­ It¡¯s the aura of an End Writer! It''s the same aura I sensed from Ryan¡­ but how? An End Writer''s aura¡­ How could a human possess it? A human who had never witnessed the destruction of his world? Could it be¡­? "You¡ª have you ever met a frail-looking boy with black hair named Ryan?" This was a problem. If he had met anyone else besides me, they would never be able to handle him. "Are you talking about that curious kid?" Ragnar asked. "You¡¯ve met him?" Victor replied, "I¡¯ve met him too. He kept asking a lot of questions about the world I came from." "Didn¡¯t you notice anything strange about him?" I asked. Alice frowned. "Strange? Like what?" "Like the aura of an End Writer." They all burst into laughter. "Hahaha! The aura of an End Writer? What nonsense!" Kyle, however, seemed to consider it. "Is it possible that he is one of them?" "I don¡¯t think so," I answered. "All I know is that he has the ability to read memories." "Then he¡¯s like you," Ragnar said. "Almost," I admitted. "He can probably read a person¡¯s memories when they answer his questions." "You guys are overreacting," Victor said. "He¡¯s just a normal person." Ragnar nodded. "Yeah, I think so too." Idiots. Well, I expected this much. But it seemed that not all of them were completely clueless. I glanced at Kyle, Isaac, Selena, and Nova¡ª they weren¡¯t laughing. Nova scoffed. "No wonder you¡¯re all idiots. You¡¯re addicted to C-rank worlds." Ragnar crossed his arms. "And what¡¯s wrong with C-rank worlds?" I smirked. "Plenty. First of all, the people there are weak and stupid. You get overpowered abilities that allow you to defeat any enemy in one or two hits, and the rest of the characters exist just to stand around in awe with their mouths open." Victor shrugged. "You talk as if you¡¯ve never been to a C-rank world yourself." Nova replied, "Of course, we had to in the beginning. And by ¡®beginning,¡¯ I mean the first five years." Ragnar pointed at me. "That guy entered a B-rank world as his first mission." Selena¡¯s eyes widened. "Oh, that was you? I heard about that story, but I didn¡¯t believe it." I hesitated. "Yeah¡­ and I¡¯ve also never entered a C-rank world before." "Not even for a vacation?" "Nope, never." The World Rankings: C-rank worlds: The easiest category. End Writers summoned here are the strongest and smartest, while the rest of the world is weak and foolish. Many End Writers visit these worlds as a form of vacation. B-rank worlds: Medium difficulty. The inhabitants are a mix of intelligence and ignorance. An End Writer''s power is usually equal to or slightly stronger than the strongest beings in the world. My first world, Earth, was a B-rank world. I still remember it clearly. A-rank worlds: Hellish and difficult. Only elite, professional End Writers dare to enter these worlds. AA cases: These occur when multiple worlds merge. It often takes several generations to resolve them. AAA worlds: This world, however, was the result of more than 100 worlds merging. Add to that the presence of those beings who had made this world their base¡­ It was no surprise that 10,000 generations of End Writers had failed. The world had been classified as AAA. Suddenly, a voice called out. "Heroes!" The door opened, and our guide stepped in. "The ceremony is about to begin. Get ready." We stood up and made our way to the arena. My nerves tensed, but I kept walking. When we arrived, we were greeted by a roaring crowd and the eight kings of the kingdoms. "Good luck, hero." "Thank you, Sinister." The announcer¡¯s voice echoed across the arena. "Heroes, prepare yourselves! Ragnar, Nova, Selena, and Isaac, step forward for the drawing!" Four papers were placed inside a glass sphere. Ragnar drew the first one. "Ragnar, Hero of Valderon, will face the Hero of Altherion!" It looked like my first battle would be against my old friend. Nova drew the next one. "Nova, Heroine of Iltixa, will face Kyle, Hero of Mordyath!" "Selena, Heroine of Arkanthia, will face Victor, Hero of Astraven!" "Isaac, Hero of Zirfen, will face Alice, Heroine of Termagus!" It looked like the battles were about to begin. I felt a spark of excitement. The Hero’s Sword Selection Ceremony 3 Ceremony of Choosing the Hero''s Sword 3 ******************************************** "The first match will be between Ragnar, the champion of the Kingdom of Valdrunn, and the champion of the Kingdom of Altherion. These matches are friendly, meant to gauge each other''s abilities so that the decisive battle will be fair. Champions, enter the arena!" The crowd''s cheers rose as we stepped into the arena. Ragnar looked at me with a mocking grin. "I won''t go easy on you just because you''re my old friend." I matched his confidence. "Neither will I." He laughed loudly. "Wait, do you really think I¡¯d lose to you, the Writer¡¯s spoiled favorite?" I furrowed my brows. "Stop calling me that damned name." He didn¡¯t respond, only raising his massive sword. We took our stances, and the referee announced the start of the battle. I drew my sword, enveloped it in mana, and felt energy coursing through it. Ragnar watched me before pulling out his own enormous blade, shimmering with radiant mana. "Aren¡¯t you going to use your ability?" He answered confidently. "I¡¯ll save it for the decisive battle." I smirked. "Didn¡¯t expect such cleverness from you." He raised an eyebrow. "Was that a compliment?" I didn¡¯t let him finish. I lunged at him with my sword. He moved at the last second, dodging the strike by inches. "You sly bastard!" "The match has already started¡ªdon¡¯t expect mercy!" He raised his massive sword and brought it down in a vertical slash. It was heavy, but it descended like lightning. I leaped back just in time, rolling away as the force of his swing sent a gust of wind past me. Half a second slower, and I¡¯d have been mincemeat. Seizing the moment his weapon¡¯s weight left him vulnerable, I dashed forward and slashed at his shoulder. The strike landed, but he didn¡¯t cry out¡ªdidn¡¯t even flinch. "Is that all you¡¯ve got?" I taunted. No response. He just raised his sword again. I struck at him with a rapid flurry, but he parried effortlessly, then shoved me back. I spun quickly, delivering a double slash that grazed his abdomen. Then¡ª**BAM!** A punch from Ragnar¡ªso fast I didn¡¯t even see it. I flew across the arena, crashing hard into the ground. My face felt shattered. Wiping blood from my nose, I grinned up at him. "Now *that¡¯s* what I was waiting for." I took a deep breath. "But don¡¯t think I¡¯ll go down in one or two hits." "Of course not!" We clashed again. I thrust at his face, but he ducked at the last second. Before I could retreat, his fist slammed into my gut. I gasped in pain but clung to his arm, driving three quick slashes into his chest. We broke apart, panting. He looked at me seriously. "Aren¡¯t you going to use **Quake**?" I raised an eyebrow. "How do you know about that?" Ragnar laughed mockingly. "You didn¡¯t know? Word of that incident has spread to every kingdom." I exhaled sharply. "Didn¡¯t realize I was famous." "Famous? Everyone *hates* you. There have been protests demanding your return to your own world, led by Vice-Captain Mary of the Knights. They even petitioned to make the battle a seven-way fight or summon a new champion." "What a warm welcome." "King Alexander managed to silence them¡ªafter some struggle." For the first time since the fight began, I glanced at the crowd. They were chanting Ragnar¡¯s name. "RAGNAR! RAGNAR!" *What a crowd.* This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. The referee interrupted. "Champions, the rules require the use of abilities in these duels." "Is there really such a rule?" Ragnar asked. I replied, "Did you read the regulations?" "No. Did you?" "Yeah¡­ but I ignored it. I figured they wouldn¡¯t care." Before I could finish, he lashed out with his claws. I dropped low, twisting midair as I drew a dagger from my waist and aimed for his arm¡ª **CRACK!** The moment the blade touched his skin, it shattered into pieces. I retreated, putting distance between us. My eyes darted around the white arena, now littered with autumn leaves. *How did these get here?* Then I looked back at Ragnar¡ª "What the¡ª Since when were you a **cat**?" I blurted, stunned. His body had transformed into that of a white tiger standing on two legs. "Good joke. But this form is my ability¡ª**Bai Hu**, the embodiment of the west and autumn." *Is that why the arena¡¯s covered in leaves?* I suddenly remembered the Chinese legend of Bai Hu from the first world I¡¯d visited. **ROAR!** His deafening roar shook the arena¡ªand **paralyzed me**. "What the¡ª Move! **MOVE!**" I strained, but my body wouldn¡¯t respond. Then¡ª Ragnar appeared before me and drove his fist straight into my face. I blacked out for a second before forcing myself back up, barely stopping myself from being knocked out of the ring. *If they already know about Quake¡­ then there¡¯s no harm in using it now.* "What are you thinking about, *hero*?" Ragnar charged at me like a raging beast. I clenched my fist and snarled, "Take **this**!" The earth trembled in a five-meter radius. Stone spikes erupted, impaling Ragnar from all sides¡ªsome piercing clean through him. The crowd recoiled in fear, remembering the disaster at the training grounds. Knights with earth-affinity magic stood ready outside the ring. Ragnar coughed blood, staggering before the attack could finish me. "HAHAHA! Is that all you¡¯ve got, Ragnar?" He didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, he **pushed forward**, the rocks spearing deeper into his body. Then¡ª His entire form **coated itself in metal**, and he lunged at me with terrifying speed, shattering every spike in his path. His fist connected¡ª **BOOM!** I was hurled out of the arena. "The first match is decided! The winner is Ragnar, champion of Valdrunn!" After being healed, I took my place in the champions'' seating, watching the remaining matches. I glanced at Ragnar, boasting about his strength, and smiled faintly¡ª**guilty**. He was a good man, someone who¡¯d always helped and defended me¡­ before we became **Scriptwriters of the End**. "You¡¯re playing maliciously ," a voice said. I turned. It was Selena. "Yeah, I know," I replied. "You could¡¯ve beaten Ragnar if you¡¯d used the lightning technique from your fight with the Dreyk." "And then what? Reveal more of my abilities? I¡¯m not stupid¡ª Wait, are you trying to win?" "Of course. It doesn¡¯t matter if you know my ability¡ªI¡¯m certain of my victory." "Getting cocky?" "Also, you¡¯re the only one who can find weaknesses in others¡¯ abilities. And You saw my ability already when you read my past." I smirked, oddly proud. "There are others¡ªIzak, Kyle, even Nova could do it." "None of them compare to you. Not even me." "So you¡¯re saying my loss was pointless?" "Not at all. Now, everyone will ignore you in the final battle. Well, everyone *except me*." She grinned wickedly. "You¡¯ll be my first target." I was about to retort when the referee announced: "Now begins the second match¡ªNova, champion of the Kingdom of Elthexia, versus Kyle, champion of the Kingdom of Mordiath!" Kyle and Nova entered the arena. Before the match started, Selena asked, "Who do you think will win?" I paused. "Nova." "Why Nova?" "Because Kyle¡¯s too smart to waste his time with these matches." "The best way to analyze an opponent is through direct combat. I doubt he¡¯d pass that up." "It also lets them analyze *your* abilities." The match began¡ª And **ended** instantly. Kyle¡¯s chains¡ªten in total, one attached to each finger with a blade at each tip¡ª**pierced Nova¡¯s body before she could move**. She collapsed unconscious, rushed to emergency care. *Kyle¡­ the Kyle I knew wasn¡¯t this brutal.* "The winner is Kyle, champion of Mordiath!" the referee declared, voice shaking. I turned to Selena. "Still confident?" "Less so," she admitted. "But I¡¯ll just have to try harder." She smirked. "My match is next. See you." I waved. "See you." As Selena and Victor entered the arena, Kyle approached. "Mind if I sit here?" "Since when do you ask permission?" "I¡¯m trying to be polite." I laughed, wiping tears from my eyes. "Looks like Mordiath taught you manners." "You wouldn¡¯t believe how much they value etiquette and refinement," he said, his face pale and weary¡ªbut a small smile played on his lips. "By the way, congrats on the win." "It wasn¡¯t a real victory. Just a friendly match." He avoided my gaze. "Did you win without using your ability?" "Of course. I didn¡¯t need it." *He¡¯s lying.* But I hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual. *Wait¡ªcould it be¡­?* "Your technique¡ªdoes it increase your speed? Or maybe **slow time**? Am I right?" "Yeah." He smiled¡ª**fake**. *What¡¯s wrong with him?* "Choosing chains as your weapon was a good call." "You talk too much." He crossed his arms, scowling. "Since when are *you* not in the mood to talk? You¡¯re usually the chatterbox." His behavior was off. Kyle stayed silent for a long moment. "Are you okay? You¡¯re not yourself." "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine." "I **know** you¡¯re not." Kyle was my friend¡ªI knew him better than anyone. I knew when he was lying. He took a deep breath. "...Do you think we should keep going?" His voice trembled. "What do you mean?" "Destroying worlds. Erasing them." I frowned. "Yeah. We¡¯re Scriptwriters of the End." "Heh. Expected that answer¡­ If that¡¯s how it is¡­ then I¡ªI won¡¯t be a Scriptwriter anymore." He looked away. The air grew heavier. My heart pounded. "W-What? Kyle, what are you saying?" I fought to keep my composure. "I¡¯m joining **them**." A cold sweat dripped down my back. My chest tightened. *He¡¯s serious¡­ But¡ª* "Kyle, you¡¯re terrible at jokes," I said, voice shaking. *I don¡¯t want to believe this.* "I¡¯m not joking." He still wouldn¡¯t look at me. "You¡¯re my friend¡ª" Before I could finish, he turned and **shouted**, voice torn between rage and pain: "**Stop this nonsense!** We¡¯re not human! There¡¯s no such thing as *friendship* or *family* between us! Scriptwriters are just **tools of destruction**!" He winced, guilt flashing across his face. "Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean that. I was just taking my anger out on you." "No, I get it. Sometimes I think I should just be a killing machine without emotions. But that doesn¡¯t mean you can **betray us**!" I glared, furious. "That¡¯s what we¡¯re **supposed** to be. But I see them¡ªcomrades from past worlds, people I killed¡ª**haunting my dreams**." My anger faded. I remembered my own nightmares. "It¡¯s the same for me." "I can¡¯t take it anymore¡­ It **hurts**." "That¡¯s what humans call a **conscience**," I muttered. "Maybe that¡¯s what makes them human." "Then why not join me?" "What?" "Let¡¯s ease our guilt. Stop destroying worlds¡ª**protect them instead**. What do you say?" His smile was hesitant. I looked at the ground. "...I-I can¡¯t." His smile vanished. "Is it because of the Grand Writer?" I didn¡¯t answer. "The Grand Writer **isn¡¯t your father**." "I know. No need to remind me." "Then why listen to him?" "I¡­ I don¡¯t know. I just **can¡¯t betray him**." My fists clenched. "Kyle, what are you two talking about?" Selena interrupted. "Finished your match?" he asked. "Not just me. Izak¡¯s too." I blinked. "Wait, what?" Kyle sighed. "We got carried away. Thanks¡­ I needed someone to talk to." "Yeah. Sure." As he walked toward the arena, I grabbed his shoulder. "Kyle." "What?" "Why tell me you¡¯re joining them? Wouldn¡¯t it have been safer to keep it secret?" "I¡­ I trust you. That¡¯s all." "That¡¯s it?" "Yeah. You¡¯re my friend. I wanted you to remember that¡­ in case we fight someday." Our eyes met¡ª**empty**, filled with nothing but sorrow. I wanted to say something¡­ but words failed me. I wanted to stop him. But nothing I said would change his mind. Before turning away, he asked one last time: "**Are you sure** you won¡¯t join me?" His eyes pleaded. I bit my lip, staring at the ground. "I expected as much. Nothing will change my decision." He walked into the arena. I returned to my seat, watching him leave¡ªknowing this was **the last moment we¡¯d ever be friends**. From now on¡­ we were **enemies**. This was the turning point¡ªnot just a farewell, but a **divergence of fate**. As he walked away, even his **shadow** felt alien¡­ like he was someone I¡¯d never known. I sat, head in my hands, reeling. whether he won or lost, he¡¯d remain in this world. *But if he wins¡­ there¡¯ll be no end writer here.* *If **I** win¡­ maybe I can bring him back.* *So I **have** to win.* . I watched Kyle¡¯s match against Ragnar The chains pierced Ragnar¡¯s body, but he. didn¡¯t fall. He attacked with his claws Kyle moved impossibly fast, slipping behind him. That¡¯s what the crowd saw. What they **didn¡¯t** see¡ª The world around Kyle **slowed to a crawl**. His chains gleamed with mana as they skewered Ragnar. Ragnar lunged¡ªslicing off Kyle¡¯s arm¡ª **''REJECT.''** Time rewound. This time, Kyle just carried Ragnar and **threw him out of the ring**. Even in his Bai Hu form, Ragnar was effortlessly defeated. Now, Selena vs. Izak. They stepped into the arena, drawing their swords. Selena **snapped her fingers**¡ª And Izak **froze**, gravity locking him in place. "You¡¯re weak, Izak." She laughed, hurling him out with a flick of her wrist. Her gravity manipulation was legendary¡ª**worse**, she¡¯d mastered its **second stage**. That¡¯s why I saw her as the favorite. *But I won¡¯t lose.* "Now, the final match! After this, we¡¯ll hold a vote predicting the winner of the Collective battle!" A vote? The majority would likely pick the obvious favorite. *But it won¡¯t change my resolve to win.* The moment I heard the crowd¡¯s cheers, I realized¡ª **The true battle had already begun.**