The hope he had found turned out to be nothing more than a false hope.
He—or rather, Infori Atziluth—had experienced something unpleasant for the second time in his life.
The first had been when he encountered a mysterious man whom he initially believed to be a Nephilim, the dominant race of Orleans, most of whom lived in the Overworld. The man used some kind of artifact to create things through the user's imagination, bringing forth tangible duplicates of living beings he had encountered or knew about.
However, that assumption was gradually proven wrong by an event that defied the understanding of an ordinary Nephilim.
The man known as Dimsk could create a mass of energy that gathered at a single point, drawing someone into it. Somehow, anyone who entered was transported to a strange dimension known as the Pathways of World.
Then came the second unpleasant experience, which occurred after the first.
In the end, everything was connected.
After entering the dimension where the fates of every living being in the two worlds resided, Infori eventually managed to escape through one of the arched doorways that marked the end of a fate.
But not long after, he was forced to face himself—or rather, a tangible duplicate of himself created by the man named Dimsk.
Although Infori had been able to hold his own against the creator of his duplicate, he could not keep up with the game his own copy had devised specifically for him.
As a result, he was struck by a devastating attack that could have killed him on the spot. Fortunately, the body of a Nephilim was strong enough to withstand such a tremendous impact, giving him a chance to survive.
Still, there was something else that concerned him.
He had lost.
He no longer had his sword to defend himself or launch an attack. That meant he could no longer protect the dagger that everyone was desperately searching for.
The dagger had originally been stored inside his bag. It had not reacted or flown toward him when touched. It had not released its usual threatening aura, nor had it resonated with the sacred tree, Everness.
Perhaps it had run out of energy. Or perhaps something else had happened.
He had no idea.
What puzzled him most was how he had returned to the same place.
The soles of his shoes touched the tiny white grains scattered across the path of fate. The translucent walkway stretched endlessly into the distance, its far end impossible to see. Along both sides, thin lines of white light emitted a soft, gentle glow.
"Why?" he asked himself. "Why am I back here?"
He wondered why he was here again. He tried to regain consciousness, but he was not unconscious in the first place. He was simply standing here.
He could not smell anything, but that was hardly surprising. This dimension was made entirely of eternal emptiness and the fates of every living being.
After trying to think of a reason for his return, he came up with nothing.
But the answer would soon come to him.
"So, you've come back here," a voice said from ahead. "Infori."
Infori narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the figure standing in front of him. He stepped closer, wanting to see clearly who it was.
Then he saw her.
An adult woman with a slim, graceful figure stood before him. Her flawless skin contrasted sharply with the emptiness surrounding her. She had long, straight purple hair and golden eyes. Her expression held a startling mixture of delight and menace.
She wore a black dress with a high slit along her thigh.
Infori stopped walking. Then he took one more step, just to make sure.
"You!"
It was her.
After realizing who stood before him, Infori quickly calmed himself. He then looked at Noya in confusion.
"So, you're the answer to my question, aren't you?" he said. He went straight to the point. "Tell me. Why did you bring me back here?"
Noya was taken aback.
She had not done anything to bring him here. She had come because she had sensed Infori's presence. That was the only reason.
After hearing his question, Noya remained silent for a moment.
But Infori continued.
"I don't know what you used to bring me here. But something bad must have happened, right?"
Noya began wondering how Infori had managed to return to the Pathways of World without a medium such as a portal.
Then she heard him mention that something bad must have happened.
And suddenly, she realized something.
"You can't say it, can you? Or maybe you just wanted to see me—"
Before Infori could finish, Noya interrupted him.
"Don't you realize it?"
Infori blinked.
"Huh?"
He had no idea what she meant. Apparently, there was something he was supposed to realize, but what?
The situation was becoming more confusing by the second.
"Realize what? Does it have something to do with how I came back here?"
"That's right," Noya replied.
But she offered nothing more.
Infori grew increasingly confused. He wanted an answer, and he wanted it soon.
According to his own logic, there was no way he could enter a mystical dimension that served as a bridge between the physical and nonphysical worlds without some kind of medium, such as a portal.
His thoughts began to spiral.
He looked in every direction, trying to make sure this was not a dream. Then he raised a hand and pinched his cheek.
It hurt. And somehow, that only made everything more complicated. Noya watched him closely. Seeing how confused he was, she felt a little sorry for him. That was why she decided to give him an answer.
"After my body was struck by that devastating attack from your friend's imitation sword," she began.
Infori immediately looked up.
"Your Nephilim body may have been able to withstand an attack that powerful, but no Nephilim can continue living after receiving something fatal."
Infori's eyes widened.
He was shocked by Noya's statement. She had not given him a clear explanation, but at least she had provided him with a glimpse of the bigger picture.
Before Noya could continue, Infori interrupted her.
"Wait...!"
"...Have you figured it out?"
"What do you mean...?"
His voice trailed off as he struggled to process a single word, one that was difficult to accept.
"...I'm dead?!"