Rain stood in place as the mysterious man's words echoed endlessly in his mind.
"Either you become fate… or you become its victim."
He never believed in destiny, nor did he think there was any power in this world capable of dictating his future. Yet, he couldn't deny the strange feeling that encounter had planted deep within him.
He moved slowly through the ruins, his eyes scanning every corner with caution. He had no idea who that man was, but something in his voice made it seem as if he knew everything… perhaps even more than Rain himself.
"Have you been deceiving me all this time?" he muttered under his breath, gazing at the Black Butterfly hovering silently around him.
But it did not respond.
He knew it was no ordinary "spiritual insect" like the others in this world. Its power, its behavior, even the silence it displayed at times… everything about it was shrouded in mystery.
But he wasn't ready to face the truth just yet.
As he walked with slow, deliberate steps, he suddenly felt a faint disturbance in the air. It was barely noticeable, but his instincts made him stop immediately.
He was not alone.
"You're quick to notice details, as expected."
The voice came from nowhere, but this time, it was not the same as before. It was different… feminine, soft, yet carrying an underlying danger.
He turned swiftly, his eyes locking onto a woman standing atop a ruined building, her black cloak swaying in the wind.
She was unlike anyone he had seen before.
Her eyes were pure silver, devoid of life, yet her smile carried something… closer to pity.
"Your true journey begins now, Rain Irthon."
Rain did not move, but he kept his fists clenched, ready for any sudden attack.
"Who are you?" he asked in a cold voice.
The woman tilted her head slightly as if studying him carefully before replying:
"Me? Just someone who watches from the shadows."
"Don't answer me with riddles."
She chuckled lightly before leaping from the building, landing before him soundlessly.
"Did the man before not tell you?" she said, her silver eyes glowing for a brief moment. "Your fate has already been written, Rain… but there is always a chance to break the chains."
A cold grip tightened around his heart.
Those words… they were similar to what the mysterious man had said.
But the difference was that this woman wasn't just warning him—she was offering him a choice.
"Break the chains?"
The woman nodded slowly.
"Yes… but it won't come for free."
Rain took a deep breath, analyzing the situation. He knew that everything had a price—nothing in this world came without cost.
"And what is the price?"
The woman stepped closer, whispering in a barely audible voice:
"To abandon what remains of your humanity."
In that moment, something inside him shattered.
But the real question wasn't whether he was ready to pay the price…
It was whether he even had another choice.
—
To be continued in the next chapter…