Morning arrived quietly over Voidspire.
The rain had disappeared during the night, leaving behind crisp air and streets that glistened beneath the rising sun.
A familiar notification echoed throughout the city.
[System Announcement]
One day remains until the Grand Tournament begins.
Participants are advised to complete their preparations.
The Survival Trial will commence immediately after the opening ceremony.
Use your remaining time wisely.
The notification faded.
Almost instantly, the atmosphere throughout Voidspire changed.
The city was still lively...
But beneath every conversation...
Every smile...
Every transaction...
Was caution.
Participants wandered through the streets, gathering information without making it obvious.
Some casually asked merchants about the surrounding forests.
Others listened to tavern conversations, pretending not to pay attention.
Some watched experienced awakened spar in public training grounds, carefully memorizing their techniques.
No one wanted to reveal too much.
But everyone wanted to learn something.
---
Arthur was sitting outside a small café, reading through a map of the city Alex had purchased the previous evening.
He had marked possible routes leading away from Voidspire, wondering which direction the Survival Trial might begin.
A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Arthur."
He looked up.
Sunny stood before him carrying an almost empty backpack.
"...Morning."
Arthur smiled.
"Morning."
Sunny scratched the back of his head.
"So..."
"I need a favour."
Arthur already knew where this was going.
"...Money?"
Sunny immediately looked offended.
"No!"
A pause.
"...Well..."
"...Maybe a little."
Arthur laughed.
"What do you need?"
Sunny opened his backpack.
"Supplies."
"Food."
"Medicine."
"Rope."
"Water containers."
"A few tools."
Arthur frowned.
"I thought Alex said we'd be provided with supplies."
"He said 'basic' supplies."
Sunny replied.
"Basic isn't enough."
He lowered his voice.
"We still don't know how the teams will work."
Arthur nodded.
Sunny continued.
"What if they split us up?"
"What if they pair us with random participants?"
"What if only two of us stay together?"
"What if every team is completely random?"
Arthur hadn't considered that possibility.
Sunny smiled.
"I'd rather prepare for the worst."
"If we're together..."
"Great."
"If we're separated..."
"I don't want to depend on strangers."
Arthur slowly nodded.
"...That's actually smart."
Sunny grinned proudly.
"I have those moments."
Arthur stood.
"Alright."
"Let's buy what we need."
The two disappeared into the crowded marketplace.
---
Elsewhere...
At the enormous western gate of Voidspire...
Two figures stood before the towering walls.
One wore worn travelling clothes beneath a dark cloak.
His expression remained calm...
Almost emotionless.
Vaelis silently looked toward the city.
Beside him...
A young woman stretched her arms before adjusting the large adventure goggles resting atop her light pink hair.
Her brown-and-green adventurer's gear was dusty from weeks of travelling.
Her dark green trousers showed signs of countless journeys.
A silver cross-chain necklace rested against her chest.
Lola smiled brightly.
"So..."
"We finally made it."
Vaelis gave a single nod.
"...Voidspire."
Lola looked toward the crowds entering through the gate.
"There are so many people."
"The tournament must be bringing everyone here."
Vaelis quietly observed the awakened flowing through the entrance.
"...Which also means..."
"...the city has become far more dangerous."
Lola smiled anyway.
"Good thing we're together."
For a brief moment...
Vaelis looked at her.
"...Yes."
The word came quietly.
Almost unconsciously.
Lola blinked before smiling even wider.
"Come on."
"I want to explore before it gets crowded."
Without waiting for an answer...
She walked through the gate.
Vaelis followed silently.
Neither of them realized...
That somewhere else within the city...
Arthur was only a few streets away.
The distance separating them...
Was measured in footsteps.
But fate...
Seemed content to keep them apart...
At least for one more day.
The marketplace had become busier as the morning went on.
While Arthur and Sunny gathered supplies...
And the others explored different parts of Voidspire...
Layla and Alexi found themselves sitting on a quiet wooden bench in one of the city's peaceful gardens.
The rain had left tiny droplets clinging to the flowers, making the entire garden sparkle beneath the morning sun.
For a while...
Neither of them spoke.
They simply admired the peaceful scenery.
Alexi was the first to break the silence.
"...You've changed."
Layla looked at her.
"...Have I?"
Alexi smiled gently.
"When I first met you..."
"You were just a little girl."
"You smiled at almost everything."
"You wore your heart on your sleeve."
She chuckled softly.
"And every time Arthur embarrassed himself..."
"You laughed the loudest."
Layla couldn't help smiling.
"...He still embarrasses himself."
"He does."
The two shared a quiet laugh.
Then Alexi's expression softened.
"But..."
"After the Skywalker tragedy..."
"You became different."
Layla's smile slowly disappeared.
The name alone was enough.
For just a moment...
The garden around her...
The flowers...
The birds...
The peaceful breeze...
All disappeared.
---
Blood.
It was everywhere.
The polished wooden floor of her home was stained crimson.
Furniture lay shattered.
The walls were covered with deep slashes.
The front door hung from a single broken hinge.
Layla stood frozen in the entrance.
"...Mom...?"
No answer.
"...Dad...?"
Silence.
Her trembling footsteps echoed through the house.
Then...
She saw them.
Her father lay motionless near the staircase.
His clothes were soaked in blood.
His eyes stared blankly toward the ceiling.
Just a few metres away...
Her mother rested against the wall.
One hand still reached toward the hallway...
As though she had been trying...
Trying to reach her daughter.
Trying to protect her until the very end.
"...No..."
Layla whispered.
"...Please..."
She stumbled forward before collapsing onto her knees.
Tears blurred her vision.
"No..."
"This..."
"This isn't real..."
She reached out with shaking hands.
Their skin was cold.
Too cold.
The silence inside the house was unbearable.
Only the slow drip...
Drip...
Drip...
Of blood breaking the stillness.
---
"...Layla?"
Alexi's voice gently pulled her back.
The garden returned.
The sunlight.
The flowers.
The birds.
Layla blinked rapidly.
She hadn't even realized tears had begun rolling down her cheeks.
Alexi immediately reached over and gently held her hand.
"It's alright."
Layla lowered her head.
"...I still see it."
Her voice trembled.
"Sometimes..."
"I close my eyes..."
"And I'm standing in that house again."
"I can still smell the blood."
"I can still hear..."
She stopped herself.
Alexi quietly squeezed her hand.
"You don't have to carry it alone."
Layla wiped her eyes.
"I've tried to move forward."
"I really have."
"But some memories..."
"They never leave."
Alexi nodded with understanding.
"No..."
"They don't."
She smiled gently.
"But those memories aren't all that define you."
She looked directly at Layla.
"I've watched you grow."
"You've become stronger."
"Braver."
"More compassionate."
"You've protected people even when you were hurting yourself."
"You remind me so much of Arthur."
Layla managed a small smile through her tears.
"I suppose that's one thing we have in common."
Alexi smiled back.
"You both choose kindness..."
"Even after the world has shown you cruelty."
For the first time since the memory surfaced...
Layla felt her breathing steady.
The pain hadn't disappeared.
It probably never would.
But sitting beside someone who understood...
Made it a little easier to bear.
Above them...
The clouds slowly parted.
Warm sunlight broke through once more...
As though reminding them...
That even after the darkest storms...
Light could still find its way through.
The streets of Voidspire were as lively as ever.
Musicians played cheerful melodies.
Merchants called out to passing adventurers.
The smell of freshly baked bread drifted through the air.
Right in the middle of it all...
Lola suddenly stopped walking.
Her bright pink eyes locked onto a bakery across the street.
The display window was filled with cakes of every imaginable kind.
Chocolate.
Strawberry.
Vanilla.
Honey.
Even cakes decorated with edible flowers and shimmering sugar crystals.
Lola gasped dramatically.
"...Vaelis."
Vaelis continued walking.
"...No."
Lola blinked.
"...I haven't even asked yet."
"You were about to."
"I was."
She quickly caught up to him before pointing excitedly at the bakery.
"Look!"
"They have cake!"
Vaelis didn't even turn his head.
"...I noticed."
"Buy me one."
"No."
She puffed out her cheeks.
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"No."
"I'll only ask one more time."
"...No."
Lola groaned loudly enough for several nearby people to turn around.
"You're so mean!"
Vaelis finally looked at her.
"...You'll survive."
She folded her arms dramatically.
"I've been surviving this entire journey."
"I deserve cake."
"You deserve food."
"Cake is food."
"It is dessert."
"Dessert is food."
Vaelis stared at her for a long moment.
"...Your logic is terrifying."
Lola grinned triumphantly.
"So that's a yes?"
"...No."
She threw her hands into the air.
"Why not?"
"You've already eaten."
"...That was this morning."
"It is still this morning."
"...Details."
A little girl walking past couldn't help giggling.
Her father smiled apologetically before continuing down the street.
Lola leaned closer to Vaelis.
"...What if I promise not to ask again?"
"You won't keep that promise."
"I might."
"You won't."
She sighed dramatically.
"I can't believe fate paired me with someone this heartless."
Vaelis looked straight ahead.
"Fate didn't pair us."
"You got lost."
"...Technicalities."
For the first time...
The corner of Vaelis' mouth lifted ever so slightly.
It was almost impossible to notice.
Almost.
Lola stopped talking.
She stared at him.
"...Wait."
"...Did you just smile?"
Vaelis' expression immediately returned to normal.
"No."
"You did!"
"No."
"I saw it!"
"You imagined it."
Lola pointed triumphantly at him.
"Ha!"
"So you can smile!"
Several people walking by glanced over, amused by the exchange.
Vaelis let out the quietest sigh.
"...Fine."
He reached into the small pouch hanging from his belt.
Lola's eyes widened.
"...Really?"
He placed a few coins on the bakery counter.
"One slice."
"No more."
Lola practically lit up.
"YES!"
Before the baker could even hand it over, she was already thanking him.
"You're the best!"
Vaelis accepted the neatly wrapped slice and handed it to her.
Lola hugged it like it was a priceless treasure.
As they continued walking through the streets of Voidspire, she happily took a bite.
"...This is the greatest cake I've ever tasted."
Vaelis glanced sideways at her.
"...Worth all that shouting?"
She smiled with frosting at the corner of her mouth.
"Absolutely."
Vaelis shook his head.
"...Unbelievable."
But despite his words...
He didn't sound annoyed.
Not anymore.
Far from the bustling marketplace...
Hidden beneath one of Voidspire's oldest districts...
A small tavern rested quietly between two narrow stone streets.
Unlike the lively inns above...
This place was calm.
The patrons spoke in hushed voices.
No music played.
Only the occasional clink of a mug disturbed the silence.
At the far end of the counter...
A lone man sat with a steaming cup before him.
Kael.
His hood was lowered, revealing calm eyes that seemed far older than the city itself.
The elderly barman wiped a glass before placing it on the shelf.
"You've been staring into that cup for nearly an hour."
Kael smiled faintly.
"...It's finally time once more."
The barman leaned against the counter.
"The tournament?"
Kael nodded.
"The most interesting one yet."
The old man chuckled.
"You've said that before."
"...Not like this."
Kael slowly lifted his cup.
"Every Collapse changes the world."
"The first left only confusion."
"The second created kingdoms."
"The third divided continents."
"The fourth gave birth to legends."
He looked into the dark liquid.
"And every generation since..."
"...people slowly stopped believing they could return home."
The barman listened quietly.
"They accepted this world."
"They married."
"They raised children."
"The population grew."
"Cities expanded."
"Roads were built."
"Technology advanced."
He gestured toward the window.
"Voidspire exists because people chose to live..."
"...instead of waiting."
The barman nodded.
"But not every continent became like this."
"No."
Kael's voice grew quieter.
"Some places never recovered."
"Take Verdanthos."
He sighed.
"A land swallowed by the scars of countless Collapses."
"The land itself rejects life."
"Only the desperate..."
"...or the insane..."
"...choose to remain there."
The tavern fell silent.
Then the barman asked,
"And the Black Continent?"
For the first time...
Kael's expression became unreadable.
"...No one knows."
"Not the kingdoms."
"Not the Watchers."
"Not even..."
He paused.
"...the gods."
The old man frowned.
"I thought the gods knew everything."
Kael gave a slow shake of his head.
"No."
"They're terrified of that place."
"So am I."
"Not because we know what's there..."
"...but because we don't."
"The Black Continent is one of the few places in existence..."
"...that refuses to answer questions."
The fire crackled softly.
After a long silence...
Kael smiled again.
"But that's not what interests me."
The barman raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Arthur."
"Sunny."
"They stand at the edge of something far greater than they realize."
He tapped the side of his cup.
"Their paths continue to change."
"Every time I think I've understood them..."
"...the future rewrites itself."
"And Layla..."
Kael's smile faded.
"...An interesting girl."
"She wasn't chosen by the System."
"So she'll watch from the stands."
"But..."
"She's hiding her abilities."
"Even from those closest to her."
"Whether that's wisdom..."
"...or fear..."
"I suppose only time will answer."
The barman looked at him curiously.
"You speak as though you've already seen tomorrow."
Kael reached into his coat.
From within...
He produced a single weathered page.
Ancient symbols drifted across it before disappearing.
The barman's eyes widened.
"...What is that?"
Kael carefully returned it to his coat.
"A page..."
"...from the Book of Records."
Silence.
The old man stared.
"That's how you know all this?"
Kael nodded once.
"The Book records what has been..."
"...what is..."
"...and fragments of what may yet become."
The barman slowly whispered,
"Then you must know what the tournament's real prize is."
Kael smiled.
"I do."
"The Ring of Ascension..."
"...is merely the prize everyone is meant to see."
He leaned forward slightly.
"The true prize..."
"...is another page of the Book of Records."
The old man's eyes widened.
"No wonder..."
Kael nodded.
"No wonder powerful people are beginning to gather."
The barman remained silent before asking the question that had been bothering him.
"If you know Arthur..."
"And Sunny..."
"Why don't you warn them?"
"You could tell them everything."
"You could change the future."
Kael quietly looked toward the tavern window.
Outside...
The people of Voidspire continued their ordinary lives.
"I could."
He admitted.
"But I won't."
The barman frowned.
"...Why?"
Kael smiled sadly.
"Because I am not a hero."
"I am not a guide."
"I am not a saviour."
He stood, placing a few coins on the counter.
"I am merely..."
"...a messenger."
"And a messenger who interferes with the message..."
"...changes its meaning."
He pulled his hood over his head.
"Their choices must remain their own."
"The future belongs to those willing to walk into it..."
"...not to those who are carried there."
Without another word...
Kael walked out into the streets of Voidspire.
The barman watched him disappear into the crowd.
Only then did he quietly whisper to himself,
"...If that's true..."
"...then I pray those children choose wisely."
Outside...
The city continued preparing for the tournament.
Unaware...
That the greatest prize waiting at its end...
Was never the one the System had announced.
Night had begun to settle over Voidspire.
Most of the hotel had gone quiet.
Tom was still seated at the small desk in his room when he heard three soft knocks on the door.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Tom immediately recognized them.
"...Come in."
The door slowly opened.
Alex stepped inside before quietly closing it behind him.
His expression was far more serious than before.
Tom noticed immediately.
"...Something happened."
Alex nodded.
"I found something while I was outside."
Tom stood.
"What is it?"
Alex remained silent for a few moments, choosing his words carefully.
"I wasn't looking for this."
"I was walking along the outskirts of Voidspire."
"Trying to think of a strategy for the tournament."
"My mind was elsewhere..."
"...until I heard voices."
Tom folded his arms.
"What kind of voices?"
"Teenagers."
"They sounded nervous."
Alex continued.
"So I stayed hidden."
"I watched."
"There were five of them."
"They were speaking to a hooded man."
Tom's expression darkened.
"What was unusual about him?"
Alex's eyes narrowed.
"His cloak."
"On his chest..."
"And on his back..."
"...was the symbol of a crescent moon."
Tom's pupils contracted.
"...The Midnight Church."
Alex slowly nodded.
"I had never seen their symbol before."
"But after everything you've told me..."
"I'm certain it was them."
The room suddenly felt colder.
Tom asked quietly,
"What happened next?"
Alex's voice became heavy.
"The hooded man reached into a small leather pouch."
"He handed each teenager what looked like small black pills."
"They hesitated..."
"...but eventually swallowed them."
Tom clenched his fists.
"No..."
Alex continued.
"At first..."
"...nothing happened."
"Then..."
"Their Aether exploded."
Tom looked up.
"They became stronger?"
Alex nodded.
"One of them shouted..."
«'I can feel it!'»
«'My Aether Core... it's expanding!'»
«'I've never felt this much Personal Aether before!'»
"For a few seconds..."
"It looked genuine."
"Their pressure increased."
"Their bodies overflowed with power."
Tom whispered,
"And then..."
Alex closed his eyes.
"They collapsed."
"One after another."
"They screamed."
"Their Aether Cores expanded beyond what their bodies could withstand."
"Their veins blackened."
"Their skin began to crack."
"And within moments..."
"...they were dead."
Silence.
Only the rain could be heard outside.
Tom lowered his head.
"...They're distributing it already."
Alex looked at him.
"You know about these drugs?"
Tom nodded grimly.
"The Hollow Choir has been investigating them for months."
"They artificially force an Aether Core to expand."
"Temporarily increasing the amount of Personal Aether someone can wield."
"But..."
"They consume the user's life."
"The stronger the increase..."
"...the faster they die."
Alex folded his arms.
"I thought it was only a rumour."
"It isn't."
Tom answered.
"And if the Midnight Church is openly selling them now..."
"...they're becoming desperate."
Alex looked directly at him.
"There's more."
Tom remained silent.
"I also overheard something."
"They mentioned your name."
Tom's eyes narrowed.
"They're looking for you."
"They believe someone connected to the Hollow Choir has entered Voidspire."
"They don't know it's you..."
"...yet."
Tom let out a slow breath.
"So..."
"It's started."
Alex nodded.
"The Hollow Choir is hunting the Midnight Church."
"The Midnight Church is hunting the Hollow Choir."
"And now..."
"...both groups are moving within the same city."
Tom looked toward the rain-covered window.
"The tournament."
Alex quietly finished the thought.
"...will become the perfect place to hide."
"And the perfect place to kill."
The room fell into silence.
After several moments...
Tom spoke quietly.
"Arthur cannot find out."
Alex looked at him.
"Not yet."
"If he learns the Midnight Church is here..."
"He'll involve himself."
"And that's exactly what they want."
Alex nodded once.
"For now..."
"We watch."
"We gather evidence."
"And we protect the others."
Tom's expression hardened.
"Because if those pills find their way into the tournament..."
"...it won't just be monsters the participants have to fear."
Alex looked toward the city beyond the window.
"No."
"...It'll be humanity itself."
Outside...
Voidspire slept peacefully.
Unaware that beneath its streets...
A silent war had already begun.
Night blanketed Voidspire.
The streets gradually emptied.
Lanterns flickered beneath the quiet sky as participants returned to their inns, their homes, and temporary shelters.
Some sharpened their weapons.
Some meditated.
Some laughed with friends.
Others...
Lay awake, unable to sleep.
Arthur stood by the window of his room, silently watching the city below.
Sunny stared at the ceiling, unable to stop thinking about the future.
Layla closed her eyes, though sleep refused to come.
Alex remained awake, studying the Book of the End.
Tom rested a hand on the bag containing the sealed letter.
Kael looked toward the tournament arena from the rooftop of a distant building.
Vaelis quietly polished his sword while Lola finished the last bite of the cake she had convinced him to buy.
Across the entirety of Voidspire...
Thousands of participants waited.
Some sought glory.
Some sought strength.
Some sought answers.
None of them truly knew...
What awaited them.
Then...
The familiar blue light spread across the sky.
Every participant froze.
A cold mechanical voice echoed throughout the city.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
The Grand Tournament will begin in:
23:59:59
Participants are advised to report to the Grand Arena before the countdown reaches zero.
Failure to appear will result in immediate disqualification.
Final preparations are now in effect.
The Survival Trial awaits.
---
The timer began to tick.
23:59:58
23:59:57
23:59:56
...
Then, something unexpected appeared.
The blue screen flickered.
For the briefest moment...
The text distorted.
As if someone...
Or something...
Had interfered.
A final line slowly formed beneath the countdown.
Unlike every System message before...
This one felt...
Almost human.
---
Good luck.
---
The message lingered for only a second.
Then the screen disappeared.
Silence returned to Voidspire.
No one knew why.
No one understood how.
But every participant felt the same thing.
Tomorrow...
Their lives would never be the same again.