Morning had not yet arrived, but the sky of Verlyn reddened like iron embers being forged. Dimensional cracks were still spewing shadows, but the power of their attacks was beginning to weaken. Makoto and Lyona had been fighting almost without rest throughout the night, accompanied by royal troops who were exhausted but continued to endure.
In the distance, the sound of a trumpet echoed.
Phaaaaaa!
Makoto stopped his swing for a moment. Heavy footsteps rolled like thousands of feet striking the ground.
"Reinforcements…" Lyona gasped, her eyes shining. "They really came."
From the western gate, a large force of the Kingdom of Ardestria entered the city: hundreds of fully armored knights, elemental mages, and priest units carrying the symbol of the Tree of Light.
The commander who had arrived earlier that night looked stunned.
"The King truly sent the entire main garrison… this is more than I expected."
Makoto did not answer. He gripped his dagger tighter. His back was soaked with sweat and miasma. His red eyes stared at the rift that continued to pulse.
Help had arrived…
But the threat had not passed.
---
The Largest Rift Begins to Collapse
When the main force raised sacred staves and holy swords toward the sky, white light exploded.
BOOOOMMMMM—!!
The wave of light devoured the purple miasma, causing the largest rift to shake violently. The shadow monsters screamed before their bodies vanished like smoke blown by the wind.
Makoto felt the immense pressure weaken inside his body.
"At last…"
Lyona smiled faintly. "We won, Makoto."
But Makoto knew, without him, the rift would not stop. He pushed his body to limits he had never reached, reading the miasma's patterns, locking energy paths, and sealing small gaps that should not have been reachable by humans.
Knights and citizens witnessed it with their own eyes.
---
Verlyn Speaks His Name
When the final rift subsided and disappeared in a dim glow, the entire city fell into silence.
One second…
Two seconds…
Then, the first voice came from a young knight.
"…That Mist-Born… saved us."
"That's right. If not for him, the eastern rift would have swallowed that district."
"I saw it! He stood alone holding back three large shadows!"
"He's not a bringer of disaster… he's a hero!"
The voices spread like fire across dry land. Even those who had previously hated him now looked at him with a mix of guilt and admiration.
A mother who had cursed Makoto yesterday stepped forward with tear-filled eyes.
"Forgive us… we were wrong. You… you are part of Verlyn."
Makoto did not know what to say.
He only nodded slowly, holding back exhaustion that almost made him collapse.
Lyona stood beside him, smiling faintly.
"See? They finally see you for who you are… not what that god said."
Makoto smiled as well, though thinly.
For the first time since his arrival…
He felt accepted.
Together.
Considered part of them.
Not merely the Mist-Born.
---
The One Watching from the Shadows
But far above the ruins of the tower, Marchaos stood still.
His eyes, red like embers, stared at Makoto without blinking.
"So that's it… you finally feel a bit of calm," he murmured softly.
But his expression was not satisfied.
Not happy.
More like… pity.
"And because of that… I must pull you out before they destroy you."
Marchaos raised his hand. A thin rift opened, unseen by anyone except himself.
Dark energy flowed.
"Your time here is enough for now, Makoto."
---
A Victory Celebration Cut Short
On the field near the guild headquarters, citizens began lighting torches.
Knights arranged their lines, mages healed the wounded, and city leaders tried to organize a simple thanksgiving event.
The royal commander approached Makoto and Lyona.
"Mist-Born… no. Sakuya Makoto."
He bowed briefly — a sign of respect.
"You saved Verlyn. From today onward, you will no longer be treated as a threat."
Lyona patted Makoto's shoulder.
"Did you hear that? For the first time in your life here… you can breathe."
Makoto nodded as exhaustion swept over his body.
He wanted to sit.
Drink warm water.
Sleep without nightmares.
But as he was about to open his mouth…
a cold sensation pierced his spine.
Lyona saw his face turn pale.
"Makoto? What's wrong?"
He had no time to answer.
---
DIMENSIONAL ABDUCTION
CRACK—!!!
A dark rift appeared directly behind Makoto, faster than a blink.
There was no miasma.
No monsters.
Only absolute emptiness.
Silence.
Cold.
And pulling.
"Makoto!!" Lyona tried to grab his arm.
Makoto tried to resist, but his body could not fight the dimensional pull. As if his will meant nothing.
Within the darkness…
a pair of red eyes appeared.
A black silhouette.
Cold.
Calm.
Marchaos.
"It's time for you to hear the truth," whispered a voice only Makoto could hear.
"Marchaos…?"
Lyona screamed. "Let him go!!"
Makoto tried to reach Lyona's hand—
But his fingers passed through empty air.
The world collapsed.
The city's sounds faded as if sucked into a bottomless well.
One final pull—
and Makoto was dragged completely into the dimensional darkness.
The rift closed.
Silence.
Without a trace.
Lyona stared at the empty space, her body trembling.
"…Makoto?"
But there was no answer.
The city of Verlyn, which had just been celebrating… fell silent once more.
While far away in an unknown dimension,
Makoto opened his eyes in a place he did not recognize,
alone with Marchaos.