The sound of birds chirping echoed from every direction.
White clouds drifted across the sky while soft golden rays of sunlight spread over the land.
Raijin stood in the middle of it all, observing everything carefully.
To him, this place was completely unfamiliar—
yet strangely familiar at the same time.
Slowly, he walked across the grassy field beneath his feet until he arrived before an old hut.
The hut looked ancient.
A river flowed beside it, and near the river lay two stones with a small fire burning between them.
It looked as though someone still lived there.
Just as Raijin was about to enter the hut, someone stepped out from inside.
The figure had lightly curled hair reaching the shoulders and wore a pointed hat made of different colors.
He was dressed in white robes tied at the waist with a blue cloth sash.
Raijin recognized him.
That person was himself.
And little by little—
he began to remember.
---
The scene changed.
The sunlight had faded.
The sky was now crimson red.
Blood was scattered everywhere, and the surrounding buildings were on the verge of collapse.
Standing amidst the destruction, Raijin watched himself.
Many people stood before him, all dressed in black robes.
Together, they closed their eyes.
Together, they raised the staffs in their hands toward the sky.
And together, they spoke the same words.
> "O center of the eternal sun, hear the call of my blood...
From the deepest abyss where even sunlight cannot reach,
I invoke the undying flame.
Cast out the darkness and reduce all things to ash.
Ignis Arcanum, Exorir."
In the next moment—
an enormous eye formed above them.
It was blood-red in color and hotter than sunlight itself.
Everything around it began melting from the heat.
Raijin stood atop a mountain of corpses.
He wore white robes tied with a blue sash—
though they were now stained completely red with blood.
His breathing was heavy.
Then he collapsed from the pile of bodies onto the ground.
Yet a strange madness still lingered within his eyes.
He laughed.
The laugh was weak—
but he laughed nonetheless.
Eventually he stopped and spoke.
"Perhaps I truly was the strongest..."
"Or perhaps I merely convinced myself that I was."
His body trembled.
He tried to stand—
but his body refused to obey.
His fingers dug into the ground.
In a trembling voice, he whispered,
"But it will not happen again."
He closed his eyes.
Gathered the last of his strength.
And spoke once more.
"O God who governs time..."
"O Spirit of Time..."
"I beg of you."
"Allow me to live again in another world."
"I shall remain forever grateful."
After saying those words, he raised his hand toward the sky and completely closed his eyes.
> "O eternal cycle of time,
Master of past, present, and future...
Sacred spirits hidden within the flow of ages, hear my call.
Break the limits of this mortal world.
Bend the threads of fate.
Carry me beyond this realm—
to the new world waiting for me."
The moment Raijin finished speaking—
the massive blood-red sphere above him,
hotter than sunlight itself,
fell directly upon him.
---
The entire scene shattered like glass.
Raijin found himself in another place.
He looked around.
Barren land.
Dead trees.
A narrow path cutting through the forest.
And approaching along that path—
two riders on horseback.
Raijin recognized them instantly.
Two words escaped his mouth.
"Sora..."
"And me..."
Memories flooded his mind.
Entering this place.
Fighting countless monsters.
Being defeated by the Lord.
Sora sacrificing himself to save him.
Raijin lost control.
He ran toward the horses.
Toward Sora.
Toward himself.
"Stop!"
"Don't go inside!"
His voice echoed desperately.
But no matter how hard he tried—
he couldn't stop them.
His past self and Sora dismounted.
They unloaded their supplies.
Raijin tried again and again to interfere—
but he simply passed around them helplessly.
Then suddenly—
he collided with one of the horses.
Immediately he looked at himself.
His body was transparent.
Yet somehow—
the horse had reacted to him.
He grabbed the horse's reins.
The horses suddenly screamed in panic.
The reins slipped from his grasp, and they bolted into the forest.
Raijin looked toward himself.
Then toward Sora.
Sora laughed softly.
"In a place like this, anyone would be frightened."
---
The scene shattered once again.
Now he saw himself and Sora lying wounded before the Lord.
Suddenly, the Lord's voice echoed.
"You two are different."
"No one dares stand before me."
"And yet you continue fighting."
If you accept becoming my servant, I will spare your lives.
Raijin looked at himself.
Then at Sora.
Immediately he shouted,
"Never!"
But a smile appeared on Sora's face.
And in that instant—
Raijin understood.
Sora was about to sacrifice himself.
Again.
Just as before.
"No...!"
Raijin sprinted toward him.
But he passed straight through him.
Then he heard Sora's voice.
"I accept your servitude."
Raijin immediately turned around.
His past self was still sitting there, wounded.
But Sora—
was completely unharmed.
Raijin's eyes widened.
His entire consciousness turned cold.
The next moment—
Sora's sword was buried in his chest.
And he fell to the ground.
---
Suddenly—
Raijin felt something pulling him backward.
Countless memories flashed before his eyes.
One after another.
They rushed into his mind.
Endlessly.
"AAAHHH—!"
His scream echoed everywhere.
Immediately he looked around.
He had returned.
Back to the dark void where countless stars hung in the sky.
His entire body was soaked with sweat.
Tears flowed from his eyes.
Blood trickled from his nose.
Across from him sat Zephyrus in his chair.
Raijin stared at him in shock.
Zephyrus spoke calmly.
"I warned you to turn back."
"Now the truth stands before you."
Raijin was trembling violently.
In a choked voice, he said,
"He betrayed me..."
"And all of them did too."
Zephyrus continued looking at him.
Then he replied,
"He betrayed you."
He repeated the same words three times.
"He betrayed you."
"He betrayed you."
"He betrayed you."
.
.
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Thank You For Reading This Chaptar.