Light.
That was the first thing.
Blinding. Warm. Wrong.
My eyes snapped open, and for a second—I couldn't breathe.
The sound hit next.
Music.
Soft. Echoing. Familiar.
My chest tightened violently as air finally rushed back into my lungs in a sharp, ragged inhale. I staggered slightly, my vision blurring as the world swam into focus.
Stained glass.
Colored light spilling across polished floors.
Rows of people.
A church.
No… no, no—
My heart slammed against my ribs.
I knew this place.
I knew this moment.
My hands trembled as I looked down at them. Clean. No blood. No shaking weakness. No warmth spilling through my fingers.
No wound.
My breath came faster now, uneven, panic clawing its way up my throat.
That's not possible…
I stumbled back half a step, my heel catching slightly on the polished floor. The movement felt too real. Too solid.
Too alive.
Voices filled the air around me—soft murmurs, quiet laughter, the shifting of people settling into their seats. It all sounded distant, like I was hearing it through water.
But I wasn't.
I was here.
Alive.
A cold chill ran down my spine.
No… I died.
The memory slammed into me without warning.
The knife.
The pain.
Her face.
That smile.
My stomach twisted violently as phantom pain flared through my gut. My hand shot down instinctively, pressing against where the blade had gone in.
Nothing.
No wound.
No blood.
Just the steady rise and fall of my chest.
"…Luke?"
The voice cut through everything.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
I froze.
Slowly—too slowly—I lifted my head.
And there she was.
Standing across from me.
Dressed in white.
Perfect.
Untouched.
Her eyes met mine, and for a split second, everything inside me shattered all over again.
That same face.
That same smile.
The same one I saw… while I was dying.
My vision darkened at the edges.
This isn't real.
It couldn't be.
I watched her lips move, watched her say something I couldn't hear over the roaring in my ears. The world felt like it was folding in on itself, like I was trapped inside some twisted echo of my own life.
The wedding…
My throat tightened.
I'm back…
My pulse pounded harder.
I'm back at the wedding.
My fingers curled slowly into fists.
And then—
Something else.
A faint sensation.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
A weight.
On my hand.
My breath hitched.
Slowly, like I was afraid it would disappear if I moved too fast, I lifted my left hand.
And there it was.
A ring.
Not the simple band I remembered.
This one was different.
Darker.
Sleek.
Almost… alive.
The surface caught the light in a strange way, like shadows moved beneath it, shifting just out of sight.
My heart skipped.
That wasn't there before…
The moment my eyes locked onto it—
A whisper.
Soft.
Close.
Too close.
"…So… you remember."
My entire body went still.
The voice didn't echo.
It didn't come from the room.
It came from inside.
Cold.
Calm.
Ancient.
My breath slowed despite myself, something deeper than fear settling in my chest.
"…Who—"
I didn't finish.
Because I already knew.
Not her.
Not the woman in front of me.
Something else.
Something that had been there…
In the dark.
In the void.
Watching.
Waiting.
The ring felt warm now.
No… not warm.
Responsive.
Like it was reacting to me.
To my thoughts.
To my awareness.
My fingers twitched slightly.
And for a split second—
The world flickered.
Just for a moment.
The church.
The people.
The light.
All of it—
Glitched.
Like something layered underneath was trying to push through.
My breath caught again.
What the hell is happening…?
The whisper returned.
Softer this time.
Closer.
"…Good."
A pause.
Then—
"…That will make this… far more interesting."
A chill ran down my spine.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
Something else.
Something sharper.
Something that cut through the panic and settled into something cold and focused.
I wasn't confused anymore.
Not completely.
I remembered everything.
The betrayal.
The knife.
The way she looked at me like I was nothing.
Slowly… I lifted my head again.
My eyes met hers.
Really met them this time.
And for the first time—
I didn't see love.
I saw her.
The mask.
The lie.
The person who watched me die.
My chest rose slowly as something inside me shifted.
Not breaking.
Not panicking.
Changing.
"…This time…"
My jaw tightened.
"…things are going to be different."
The music kept playing.
Soft. Steady. Unchanged.
Like nothing had happened.
Like I hadn't just died.
My fingers twitched at my side, the sensation grounding me just enough to stop the spiral in my head. The world hadn't collapsed. No one was screaming. No one was bleeding out on the floor.
They were smiling.
Watching.
Waiting.
For me.
"…Luke?" her voice came again, closer this time.
I forced myself to breathe.
Slow.
Controlled.
In… out…
The panic didn't disappear—but it shifted. Compressed. Forced down into something tighter. Sharper.
Useful.
"I'm fine," I heard myself say.
The words felt strange coming out of my mouth, like I was listening to someone else speak. My voice was steady—too steady for what was going on inside my head.
Her eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, searching.
For what?
Weakness?
Doubt?
I held her gaze.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't look away.
Something changed in her expression.
Subtle.
Barely there.
But I caught it this time.
A flicker.
Not concern.
Not love.
Calculation.
…Yeah.
My jaw tightened slightly.
I see you now.
The priest's voice rose again, pulling the attention of the room back to the ceremony. Words I had already lived through once filled the air, echoing in my ears like a script I was being forced to perform again.
But this time…
I wasn't the same person.
My hand clenched slowly at my side.
The ring pulsed.
I froze.
It wasn't imagination.
It wasn't nerves.
It pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
A faint, subtle rhythm—like a heartbeat that didn't belong to me.
My breath caught.
…What is this thing?
I lowered my gaze slightly, just enough to look at it without drawing attention.
The surface shifted again.
Not physically—but something beneath it.
Like shadows moving under glass.
The whisper returned.
Clearer now.
Closer.
"…Focus."
My entire body stilled.
That voice…
It wasn't fading anymore.
It wasn't distant.
It was here.
With me.
"What are you?" I muttered under my breath, barely moving my lips.
No one reacted.
No one heard.
But the voice did.
"…You already know."
A pause.
Then—
"…You reached for it."
The void flashed in my mind.
The book.
The pages.
The images.
The ring.
My fingers tightened slightly.
"…The page…" I whispered.
The ring pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
"…Yes."
The world around me seemed to dim—not visually, but in my awareness. The voices, the music, the movement of people… it all faded into the background as something else pushed forward.
Something deeper.
Something beneath the surface of reality itself.
My vision shifted.
Just slightly.
Like a second layer had been placed over the world.
And then—
It appeared.
Faint.
Translucent.
In front of me.
A page.
Floating.
Impossible.
My breath hitched.
It looked like it had in the void—but smaller. Focused. Real.
Symbols I couldn't fully understand lined its surface, shifting slowly, like they were alive. Images flickered across it—too fast to fully grasp.
A blade.
A creature.
A landscape drenched in red.
My heart started racing again—but this time, it wasn't panic.
It was something else.
Anticipation.
"…No one else can see this…" I murmured.
"…Correct."
The voice sounded almost… amused.
"…This is yours."
The page pulsed faintly.
Waiting.
I swallowed.
Pull from the page.
The words echoed in my mind again, clearer than before.
My hand lifted slightly.
Carefully.
Slowly.
If someone was watching, it would look like nothing—just a subtle movement.
But to me…
It felt like everything.
"…If this is real…" I whispered.
My fingers hovered just in front of the page.
"…then everything changes."
The whisper responded instantly.
Lower.
Colder.
Certain.
"…Everything already has."
My fingers touched it.
And the moment I did—
The world broke.
Not shattered.
Not destroyed.
But split.
Sound vanished.
Light twisted.
The church disappeared—
And for a fraction of a second—
I saw something else.
A different sky.
Dark.
Endless.
A crimson glow bleeding across the horizon.
The scent of something metallic filled the air.
Blood.
My heart slammed violently in my chest.
Then—
Everything snapped back.
The church.
The music.
The people.
All still there.
Unchanged.
Except—
My hand.
Something was in it now.
Solid.
Cold.
Real.
My breath caught as I slowly looked down.
And smiled.
Not out of happiness.
Not out of relief.
But something else entirely.
Something new.
Something dangerous.
"…Good…"
The voice whispered softly.
Closer than ever now.
"…Now we begin."
For a second… I just stared at it.
My hand didn't move.
My breathing slowed.
Everything else—the church, the people, the ceremony—it all faded into the background like noise I couldn't quite hear anymore.
Because this…
This was real.
The weight in my palm was undeniable.
Cold.
Solid.
Mine.
Slowly, I tightened my grip.
The object shifted slightly in my hand, catching the light from the stained glass windows above. A faint, dark gleam ran across its surface—subtle, but alive in a way that made my chest tighten.
I turned my hand just enough to see it clearly.
A blade.
Small.
Sleek.
Not a kitchen knife.
Not something normal.
This was different.
The metal was darker than it should've been, almost like it absorbed the light instead of reflecting it. The edge was thin—too thin—and even without touching it, I knew it was sharp enough to cut through anything.
The handle fit perfectly in my grip.
Like it had been made for me.
My pulse quickened.
"…I pulled this…" I muttered under my breath.
The whisper responded instantly.
"…You chose it."
My fingers tightened.
"I didn't choose anything," I said quietly, my voice low and controlled. "I didn't even know what I was touching."
A pause.
Then—
"…Your instinct did."
My jaw clenched.
That… made sense.
Too much sense.
My eyes flicked up for just a second.
Everyone was still watching the ceremony.
No one was looking at me.
No one noticed.
No one saw the blade in my hand.
"…Hidden…" I murmured.
"…Correct."
A faint shift in the voice.
Approval.
"…Only you can see it. Only you can use it."
I exhaled slowly.
Good.
That made things easier.
A lot easier.
My grip relaxed slightly as I tested the weight of it again.
Balanced.
Perfect.
Deadly.
And then—
The memory hit.
The knife.
The one that went into my stomach.
The one that ended everything.
My fingers froze.
My chest tightened—
But this time…
It didn't break me.
It didn't drag me down.
It sharpened something inside me.
I looked back down at the blade in my hand.
"…Not this time."
My eyes lifted.
And locked onto her.
She was still standing there.
Still smiling.
Still playing her part perfectly.
To everyone else, she looked radiant.
Untouched.
Beautiful.
But now?
Now I saw everything.
The way her eyes moved.
The slight tension in her posture.
The calculation behind every expression.
The lie.
My grip tightened around the blade.
For a split second—
A thought crossed my mind.
Clear.
Simple.
Dangerous.
I could end it right now.
My breathing slowed.
The world narrowed.
Just me.
Her.
And the distance between us.
One step.
That's all it would take.
One step forward.
One movement.
And everything would change.
The whisper returned.
Lower now.
Closer.
"…You could."
My fingers twitched.
The blade felt lighter.
Easier to move.
Like it wanted me to act.
"…She betrayed you."
My jaw tightened.
I knew that.
I felt that.
"…She watched you die."
My chest burned.
I saw it again.
Her face.
That smile.
"…End it."
My body leaned forward—
Just slightly.
Just enough to shift my weight.
Just enough to—
"Luke?"
Her voice.
Soft.
Perfect.
Fake.
It snapped something in me.
Not control.
Clarity.
My movement stopped.
My grip loosened slightly on the blade.
My breath steadied.
Slow.
Measured.
"…No," I whispered.
The word was quiet.
But absolute.
The whisper paused.
For the first time—
Silent.
I lowered my hand slowly, letting it fall naturally to my side.
Hidden.
Controlled.
Not now.
Not like this.
Killing her here?
In front of everyone?
That wasn't justice.
That wasn't control.
That was emotion.
And I wasn't that person anymore.
Not after what I'd seen.
Not after what I'd been given.
My eyes stayed locked on hers.
And for the first time—
I smiled.
Not the same smile as before.
Not hopeful.
Not naive.
This one was different.
Cold.
Knowing.
"…This time…"
My grip tightened slightly around the blade.
"…I decide how this ends."
The whisper returned.
Soft.
Different now.
Not pushing.
Observing.
"…Good."
A pause.
Then—
Something new.
Something deeper.
"…You learn quickly."
A faint chill ran through me.
Not fear.
Recognition.
Whoever—or whatever this was…
It wasn't just watching.
It was judging.
I exhaled slowly.
"…Then watch," I muttered under my breath.
The blade in my hand flickered—
And vanished.
Gone.
Like it had never been there.
But I could still feel it.
Somewhere.
Connected.
Waiting.
My heart steadied.
My mind cleared.
The ceremony continued around me.
Unaware.
Unchanged.
But everything was different now.
Because this time…
I wasn't walking into a dream.
I was walking into a battlefield.
The blade was gone.
But it wasn't.
I could still feel it.
Not in my hand—but somewhere deeper. Like a memory that hadn't faded. Like something waiting just beneath the surface, ready to be pulled back out at any moment.
My fingers twitched slightly at my side.
Yeah… it was still there.
Just… not visible.
"…So that's how it works," I muttered under my breath.
"…A fragment."
The voice returned instantly.
Closer now.
Clearer.
Not just a whisper anymore.
A presence.
I didn't react outwardly, but inside—my focus sharpened.
"…A fragment of what?" I asked quietly.
For a moment, there was no answer.
Then—
"…Power."
My jaw tightened.
That wasn't an explanation.
"…You're going to have to do better than that."
A pause.
And then—
Something shifted.
The air didn't change.
The room didn't change.
But something did.
"…You stand at the beginning…"
The voice was different now.
Still calm.
Still controlled.
But there was weight behind it.
Authority.
"…and you ask questions like you've already earned answers."
A faint chill ran down my spine.
Not fear.
Recognition.
I exhaled slowly.
"…Then I'll earn them."
Silence.
For a second, I thought it might respond again—
But instead…
Something else happened.
The ring pulsed.
Stronger than before.
My breath caught slightly.
Not pain.
Not exactly.
More like—
Pressure.
My vision flickered again.
Just for a second.
The church dimmed—
And something else bled through.
Darkness.
Not empty like the void before.
This was different.
Heavy.
Alive.
A low hum filled my ears, like something distant… something massive… breathing just out of reach.
Then—
It snapped back.
I was in the church again.
The ceremony still going.
Uninterrupted.
Unaware.
But my chest was rising faster now.
"…That wasn't just a glitch," I whispered.
"…No."
The voice again.
Closer.
Sharper.
"…That was a door."
My pulse spiked.
A door.
"…To where?"
A pause.
Then—
"…To what you chose."
My mind flashed back.
The page.
The images.
The crimson sky.
The scent of blood.
The blade in my hand.
My grip tightened instinctively—even though there was nothing there.
"…That world…" I muttered.
"…Yes."
The confirmation was immediate.
Absolute.
"…You touched it."
My heart was racing now—but not from fear.
From something else.
Something pulling at me.
Like gravity had shifted.
Like something on the other side was… aware.
Watching.
Waiting.
The ring pulsed again.
And this time—
It didn't stop.
A steady rhythm.
Faster.
Stronger.
My breathing matched it without me realizing.
In.
Out.
In—
Out—
"…What happens if I go through?" I asked quietly.
The answer came instantly.
No hesitation.
No warning.
"…You survive… or you don't."
I almost laughed.
A short, quiet breath.
"…Good to know."
There was no comfort in that answer.
No safety.
No guarantee.
Just truth.
Cold.
Simple.
Real.
…Unlike everything else in my life.
My eyes lifted again.
And found her.
Still standing there.
Still playing her role.
Still pretending.
The contrast hit harder now.
On one side—
Lies.
Manipulation.
A life built on something that never existed.
On the other—
This.
Danger.
Unknown.
Power.
Truth.
My jaw tightened.
…Yeah.
The choice wasn't hard.
Not anymore.
"…I'll go," I said quietly.
The words were barely audible.
But the response—
Immediate.
"…Of course you will."
And for the first time—
There was something else in that voice.
Not just observation.
Not just control.
Interest.
My chest rose slowly.
"…Not yet."
A pause.
Then—
"…Explain."
I smirked faintly.
Cold.
Controlled.
Nothing like the man I used to be.
"…I just got a second chance," I murmured. "…I'm not wasting it by rushing in blind."
Silence.
Then—
"…Good."
That word again.
But this time—
It felt different.
Like approval.
"…Then prepare."
The ring pulsed once more—
And suddenly—
The page flickered back into existence.
Clearer than before.
Sharper.
More defined.
This time, I could actually see parts of it.
Not everything.
But enough.
Symbols shifting.
Images forming.
And—
Something new.
At the bottom.
Faint.
But there.
A number.
Small.
Almost insignificant.
[Essence: 0]
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So that's the cost," I whispered.
"…Everything has one."
I exhaled slowly.
Of course it did.
Nothing this powerful would be free.
Nothing real ever was.
My gaze lifted one last time.
The ceremony was reaching its peak.
The moment I had lived once before.
The moment everything went wrong.
My chest tightened slightly—
But it didn't control me anymore.
Because now…
I had control.
"…Let's see how this plays out."
The priest's voice echoed through the church.
"…Do you, Luke Walker, take this woman—"
I already knew the words.
I had lived them.
Said them.
Believed them.
Died because of them.
My chest rose slowly as I stared at her.
Not the way I had before.
Not with hope.
Not with love.
But with clarity.
Her eyes met mine again.
And this time…
I saw it.
Not just the mask.
But the cracks in it.
Subtle.
Barely there.
But real.
She was watching me more closely now.
Noticing something was off.
Good.
Let her.
"…Luke?"
The priest's voice pulled at me again, louder now.
Waiting.
The entire room was waiting.
I could feel it.
Dozens of eyes on me.
Expecting the same answer.
The same man.
The same outcome.
My jaw tightened slightly.
Not this time.
A thousand thoughts ran through my head in an instant.
I could stop this.
Right here.
Say no.
Walk away.
Expose everything.
End it before it even began.
But—
My gaze flicked to her again.
Then to the crowd.
Then back.
No.
Too easy.
Too clean.
Too quick.
That wouldn't teach her anything.
Wouldn't give me anything.
Wouldn't prepare me for what was coming.
The ring pulsed faintly.
Almost… approving.
My lips parted.
"I do."
The words left my mouth smoothly.
Calm.
Controlled.
The same as before.
But everything behind them…
Was different.
A faint shift ran through her expression.
Relief.
Satisfaction.
Control.
She thought she still had me.
That I was still the same man.
Good.
Let her think that.
The ceremony continued.
Her turn.
"I do."
Perfect.
Flawless.
A lie wrapped in something beautiful.
The applause came next.
Loud.
Celebratory.
Empty.
I leaned forward as the priest motioned for the kiss.
My hand lifted, brushing the veil aside.
Her eyes met mine one more time.
And for a split second—
Something flickered there.
Uncertainty.
Gone just as fast as it appeared.
I leaned in.
Our lips met.
Soft.
Familiar.
Meaningless.
Because now…
I knew exactly what those lips had done.
Who they had kissed.
What they had said behind my back.
My stomach twisted slightly—
But I didn't pull away.
Didn't react.
Didn't break.
I played my part.
Perfectly.
When we turned to face the crowd—
Smiling.
Celebrated.
Cheered—
I felt nothing.
Not joy.
Not relief.
Not even anger.
Just…
Focus.
The music swelled again as we walked down the aisle together.
Her hand in mine.
Just like before.
But this time—
I paid attention.
The small details.
The glances.
The timing.
Everything.
Halfway down the aisle—
There.
A flicker.
Subtle.
Easy to miss.
But not anymore.
A man near the back.
Watching.
Not smiling.
Not celebrating.
Just…
Watching.
Our eyes met for a fraction of a second.
And I knew.
Him.
The one who killed me.
The one who stood in my home.
The one who thought this was already decided.
My grip tightened slightly around her hand.
Not enough for her to react.
Just enough to remind myself—
He was real.
This wasn't just memory.
This was happening again.
And this time…
I was ready.
The whisper returned.
Quieter.
Sharper.
"…You see him."
I didn't respond.
Didn't need to.
"…Good."
We reached the doors.
Light flooded in.
Cheers followed us outside.
Rice.
Laughter.
Voices.
The world celebrated something that didn't exist.
And I walked through it all like a ghost wearing someone else's life.
Her hand squeezed mine.
Light.
Careful.
Controlled.
I glanced down at it.
Then back at her.
And smiled.
Not warm.
Not loving.
But convincing.
Because that's what this was now.
A game.
A setup.
A battlefield hidden behind smiles and vows.
The ring pulsed again.
Stronger.
More insistent.
My chest tightened slightly.
"…Soon…"
The voice whispered.
Not a suggestion.
A certainty.
I exhaled slowly.
Yeah.
I could feel it too.
Something pulling at me.
From somewhere else.
From that world.
That door.
Waiting.
But not yet.
First—
I needed to move pieces into place.
My gaze drifted back briefly—
Toward where he stood.
Still watching.
Still confident.
Still thinking he'd already won.
My smile widened slightly.
Cold.
Sharp.
"…Not this time."
The reception felt exactly the same.
And completely different.
Laughter filled the room, glasses clinked, music played just loud enough to blur into the background—but this time, none of it reached me.
Not really.
It all felt… distant.
Like I was standing just outside of it, watching everything unfold from a step removed.
Her hand rested lightly on my arm as we moved through the crowd, greeting people, accepting congratulations, smiling at the right moments.
Perfect.
Flawless.
A performance.
"…You look tense," she murmured softly, leaning in just enough for it to seem intimate.
To anyone watching, it would've looked like affection.
Concern.
A loving wife checking on her husband.
I glanced down at her.
Really looked.
And there it was again.
That same controlled expression.
That same calculated tone.
"I'm fine," I said.
Calm.
Easy.
Believable.
Her eyes lingered on me for a second longer than necessary.
Searching.
She feels it.
Good.
"Just nerves," I added.
That seemed to satisfy her.
Of course it did.
That's what I would've said before.
That's what she expected.
She smiled—soft, reassuring—and squeezed my arm lightly before stepping away to greet another guest.
And just like that…
She was gone.
My gaze followed her for a moment.
Watching how easily she moved.
How naturally she slipped between people.
How effortless the lie was.
"…Impressive."
The word left my mouth before I could stop it.
"…Deceptive."
The voice corrected instantly.
I didn't react outwardly—but inside, something shifted.
"…You're still here," I muttered quietly, grabbing a glass from a passing tray without really looking at it.
"…Of course."
The response was immediate.
Certain.
"…You've only just begun."
I took a slow sip.
Didn't taste it.
Didn't care.
"…Then start being useful."
A pause.
Longer this time.
And then—
"…Bold."
Not annoyed.
Not offended.
Interested.
I leaned casually against the edge of a table, scanning the room.
"…You said I chose that world."
"…You did."
"…Then tell me what I chose."
Silence.
Then—
"…A fragment of a blood-bound realm."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
Blood.
Yeah… that matched what I saw.
"…And the blade?"
"…A low-tier manifestation."
Low-tier.
I almost laughed.
"…So that's weak?"
"…It is… appropriate."
I smirked faintly.
"…For now."
No denial.
No correction.
Just—
"…For now."
Good.
That told me everything I needed.
This wasn't a one-time thing.
This was progression.
Growth.
Something I could build.
Something I could control.
My fingers twitched slightly.
The blade flickered back into existence for just a fraction of a second—
Then vanished again.
Yeah…
Still there.
Still mine.
"…And the number?" I muttered. "…Essence."
"…Your limitation."
Of course it was.
"…How do I get it?"
This time—
No pause.
"…Take it."
My grip tightened slightly around the glass.
"…From what?"
The answer came softer.
Colder.
"…Anything that holds power."
A faint chill ran through me.
Not fear.
Understanding.
"…So everything."
"…Eventually."
I exhaled slowly.
Alright.
That was simple enough.
Not easy.
But simple.
I could work with that.
A familiar voice cut through my thoughts.
"Luke."
I turned slightly.
Gordy.
He was making his way through the crowd, drink in hand, that same easy confidence in his stride.
For a second—
Something loosened in my chest.
Not weakness.
Not distraction.
Just…
Recognition.
"…You look like hell," Gordy said as he stepped up beside me, eyeing me carefully.
I huffed out a quiet breath.
"…You always say that."
"Yeah," he replied, taking a sip of his drink. "But this time I mean it more."
I glanced at him.
Really looked.
This was before.
Before everything went wrong.
Before I pushed him away.
Before I died.
"…Just a long day," I said.
He studied me for a second longer.
Like he wasn't buying it.
Like he could tell something was off.
Good.
That hadn't changed.
"Alright," he said finally, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "But if something's going on, you don't carry it alone. You know that."
I nodded once.
"…Yeah."
And this time—
I meant it.
Because this time…
I wasn't making the same mistakes.
Gordy moved off after a moment, pulled into another conversation.
My gaze followed him briefly.
Then shifted.
Scanning.
Watching.
And there—
Across the room.
Him.
Leaning against the wall now.
Drink in hand.
Watching again.
Always watching.
My jaw tightened slightly.
"…He's not even hiding it."
"…Confidence often breeds carelessness."
The voice again.
Sharper now.
More… present.
"…Good," I muttered.
My eyes locked onto his.
And this time—
I didn't look away.
Neither did he.
A slow smirk spread across his face.
Like he already knew how this ended.
Like nothing had changed.
Like I was still the same man.
My grip tightened slightly.
"…Not for long."
The ring pulsed.
Harder this time.
Not subtle anymore.
A sharp pressure spread through my chest—
My breath caught.
The room flickered.
Just for a second—
But stronger than before.
The music warped.
The voices stretched.
The light dimmed—
And—
I saw it again.
That sky.
Crimson.
Endless.
Closer this time.
Clearer.
The smell hit next.
Blood.
Thick.
Heavy.
Real.
My pulse spiked.
The pull was stronger now.
Not distant anymore.
Calling.
Demanding.
"…Soon…"
The voice whispered again.
But this time—
It wasn't alone.
Something else lingered beneath it.
Something quieter.
Colder.
Watching.
Waiting.
Not the same presence.
Not the same tone.
Different.
Feminine.
Ancient.
Interested.
A faint breath brushed the edge of my mind—
"…So… this is the one?"
My entire body went still.
That wasn't the same voice.
Not the one guiding me.
Not the one from the void.
This one was…
Different.
Lower.
Sharper.
And far more dangerous.
My grip tightened instinctively.
"…Who was that?" I muttered under my breath.
Silence.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then—
"…A fragment… like you."
That wasn't an answer.
Not really.
But it was enough.
Because whatever that was…
It wasn't just watching.
It was evaluating me.
Judging me.
And for some reason…
That sent a thrill down my spine.
Not fear.
Something else.
Something darker.
"…Good," the softer voice whispered again, fading slightly.
"…don't disappoint me."
The presence vanished.
Just like that.
But the feeling lingered.
Heavy.
Real.
My breathing slowed.
My heart steadied.
And slowly…
A smile spread across my face.
Cold.
Sharp.
Excited.
Because now I knew—
I wasn't just stepping into something unknown.
Something was waiting for me on the other side.
And it had already taken an interest.