"Yoo, Makoto. How are you?"
The voice echoed softly yet sharply, as if it came from far away and from inside his head at the same time. Makoto turned around and saw a figure standing only a few steps in front of him.
Marchaos.
Or more precisely—himself, an adult version. A version that was calmer, more refined, and far more dangerous.
Makoto observed Marchaos from head to toe. The same face, the same jawline, white hair that was slightly longer and neater, and eyes that seemed to contain two thousand years of life.
"Just like me…" Makoto muttered unconsciously. "But a super calm adult version."
Marchaos raised an eyebrow and gave a small smirk.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Do you miss looking at yourself in the mirror?"
Makoto scoffed. "What the hell."
"What do you want from me?" he asked directly.
Marchaos shrugged.
"If it's about what I want, I do have one. But I already know you'll refuse."
"Huh?" Makoto looked at him in confusion.
"I just want to talk with myself," Marchaos said. "Because you are me… and I am you."
Those words made the air around them feel colder.
---
A Fate Split in Two
"Tell me," Marchaos asked while twirling his fingers in the air as if holding an invisible glass of wine, "are you interested in becoming a god?"
Makoto thought. Not for long—but long enough for Marchaos to nod as if he already understood his thoughts.
"What do you mean?" Makoto finally asked.
Marchaos smiled. A smile that was unpleasant to look at—not evil, but like that of someone who had lost too much.
"We… have a destiny to become one of two things: a god, or a bug that shatters balance."
Makoto raised an eyebrow, a cynical smile forming.
"So, can I refuse that destiny?"
Marchaos laughed shortly. Brief, yet genuine.
"Hahahaha. I like that answer. You can refuse. But if you do, then we will remain two different people. Our fate splits. You become the free version… and I become the stained one."
Makoto snorted softly.
"So when can I get out of here?"
"Oh?" Marchaos crossed his arms. "Already missing your girlfriend?"
"That's not what I meant!" Makoto blushed. "I'm just… afraid I'll get stuck here."
Marchaos chuckled, softer this time.
"Relax. Time doesn't move here. Speed doesn't apply. In Verlyn's reality, not even a second has passed."
Makoto swallowed.
"But," Marchaos continued, pointing at the empty floor, "if you want to leave, it will take 1 nanosecond…
and that equals 10 years in Verlyn."
Makoto's heart stopped for a moment.
"So you trapped me?"
"How could you think that about yourself?" Marchaos tilted his head. "I'm on your side. I saved you from Aetherion—the main god—who had already begun controlling you. He made you hallucinate that I was always watching you… when I wasn't."
Makoto fell silent.
His blood felt like it stopped flowing.
"S-so… all this time I was… being controlled?"
"Yes," Marchaos answered. "Slowly. Very slowly. He tried to turn you into a pawn. That's why I pulled you in here."
Makoto clenched his fists.
"Then… what do you need from me?"
Marchaos pointed toward a massive arc of fog in the distance—a dimensional gate floating without touching the ground.
"I want you to destroy the Fog Gate. The gate that brings humans from our world to this one."
Makoto nodded slowly, his mouth dry.
"If that ends everything… fine. I accept."
"Good." Marchaos patted Makoto's shoulder.
"Then listen carefully. I will give you 1% of my power."
Makoto was shocked. "Only one percent?"
"Enough to destroy the gate… and enough to make you suffer."
Makoto stiffened. "Suffer?"
"Yes. This energy is dangerous. This power can erode your identity. It might fade small memories. It might change your emotions."
"…If that's the price, I'm ready."
Marchaos stared at him for a long time. Not with the eyes of a god. Not with the eyes of an enemy.
But with the eyes of someone who knew all of Makoto's trauma since birth.
"You are far more human than me," he whispered.
---
Transfer 1%: An Invisible Wound
Marchaos opened his palm.
A black-silver light appeared, like living ink flowing up and down, forming moving runes.
Makoto shivered—this light was not magic.
Nor divine power.
It was something that should not exist.
Marchaos pushed the light into Makoto's chest.
BOOOOM—!
Makoto was thrown several meters back. His entire body trembled as if struck by freezing electricity. His skin cracked like shattered glass, then fused back together.
Whispers filled his head.
Human prayers.
Monster curses.
Screams from unknown dimensions.
Makoto clutched his chest.
"Hah… hhh… insane…"
Marchaos smiled in satisfaction.
"Congratulations. You can now destroy the Fog Gate."
Makoto stood again, though his knees trembled.
"I'm strong. But it feels like… poison is crawling through my bones."
Marchaos nodded.
"That's normal."
---
Marchaos Heads to the Battlefield of Gods
Marchaos created a golden glowing rift in the air—the rift pulsed, spilling divine light.
"I have to go. Aetherion must have realized you disappeared from his system."
"Marchaos," Makoto called before the figure vanished. "Thank you… for saving me."
Marchaos stopped.
His shoulders moved slightly, as if holding back laughter or tears.
"I was only saving myself… in the past."
And he disappeared.
The dimension fell silent.
Makoto was alone.
Makoto stared at the Fog Gate, breathing heavily. "This… is 1% of Marchaos's power? It feels like… my whole body is burning."
He closed his eyes, calming himself. "Alright… time to destroy this," he muttered.
Makoto's hand pierced the air, tearing space around the gate. Black-silver light spun wildly. A roaring sound came from the gate.
"This is for everyone trapped here… and for Lyona," he whispered.
Light and energy exploded. "Hah… almost…" Makoto braced himself against the surging wave.
The gate cracked. Pure light burst out. "It's done…," Makoto exhaled, trembling, but a faint smile appeared. "I… did it."
Makoto looked at the portal forming from the fractured space-time. "This is my way back… real world, wait for me, Lyona."
---
One Nanosecond Begins
Makoto closed his eyes.
In one nanosecond… ten years would pass in the outside world.
Time began to move.
And within that fracture of time—Makoto saw everything.
---
Year 1:
Lyona ran through the ruins of Verlyn searching for Makoto. Her hair was messy, her breath ragged.
"Makoto!! MAKOTO!!"
No answer.
---
Year 2:
Lyona carried a massive sword, her body covered in wounds.
She stared at the fog, biting her lip until it bled.
"I don't believe you're dead… so don't die."
---
Year 3:
Lyona fought a stone golem alone. The guild watched from afar.
"Crazy… wasn't she the weak girl from yesterday?"
"She changed…"
---
Year 5:
Lyona killed a blue dragon alone.
One strike.
The massive monster fell.
"She's not human…"
She only answered,
"I have to become strong. Stronger than anyone."
---
Year 7:
The guild board changed:
RANK S — LYONA THE MOON HUNTER
Everyone praised her.
But she didn't care.
"I only want one thing."
---
Year 10:
Lyona stood on the cliff where Makoto disappeared.
Cold air swept through her long hair.
"Makoto… even if you're dead… I will find you."
---
Makoto saw all of that in a suffocating nanosecond.
Tears fell without him realizing.
"I… made her wait that long…"
His heart felt torn apart.
---
5 — Return to the Real World
CROOOOOSS!!
Makoto was thrown out of the dimensional rift and crashed onto Verlyn's rocky ground. Only one second had passed in real time.
But the world had changed:
– city walls were cracked,
– soldiers and adventurers were shouting,
– the sky was covered in dark fog.
Makoto lifted his face.
From the sky, a beam of blue light descended rapidly.
Someone landed in front of him.
Someone with long hair, black-silver armor, powerful red eyes filled with shattered emotions.
Lyona.
She looked at Makoto.
Her body trembled.
"…Makoto?"
Makoto looked at her for a long moment.
Then smiled softly.
"I'm home."
Lyona immediately covered her mouth—tears streaming down.
"Idiot… you idiot… I searched for you for ten years…"
Makoto lowered his head.
"I'm sorry… for me, it was just a blink."
Lyona hugged him tightly, not caring that the world was in chaos.
Makoto, for the first time since coming to this world, returned the embrace.
"I really missed you," he murmured, his voice slightly breaking.
I touched her head. "I know."
She lifted her face, her eyes red from holding back tears that didn't suit the strongest hero in the world.
"Makoto," she called firmly.
"Hm? What is it?"
She took a deep breath, as if gathering courage she never needed when fighting dragons, demons, or even kings of other nations.
"Maybe I'm a little late to say this… but I finally understand my own feelings." She gripped my collar tightly. "And… please allow me to be your home. A place where you can share your happiness and sadness… a place that will never leave you again."
I fell silent—not from doubt, but because my heart tightened at a sincerity that nearly stole my breath.
"…Lyona," I called her name in a tone I had never used before.
"What?"
"Then… allow me to bear your happiness and your sorrow as well. And… change your future. Make it our future."
Her eyes widened slightly, then slowly softened.
Her answer was short, but heavy with meaning.
"Yes."
She hugged me. This time not as a hero—but as a girl who had finally found her way home after years of running.
The blue sky stretched wide above us—clear, warm, as if celebrating the beginning of a life we never thought we'd have. For the first time since coming to this world, I felt… complete. Not as a savior, not as a pawn of fate… but as myself.
Within that embrace, the world felt calm.
And then… a familiar voice appeared in my head.
"My duty is finished, Makoto."
Marchaos's voice.
But this time… gentle.
Almost like an older brother saying goodbye.
"From now on… live freely. Without chains, without fear. I've watched over you for too long."
Something warm left me—something that had guided me, forced me to endure, forced me to live.
Lyona didn't notice. She only hugged me tighter, as if she knew something had just ended… and something new had begun.
I closed my eyes.
"I'll live freely," I whispered softly. "For me… and for you."
I still wondered quietly in my thoughts.
"Huh… how did he defeat Aetherion? I… don't know what power he was hiding. Maybe… something incredibly strong, or even stronger than I can imagine right now."
But all I wanted was this.
The sky to remain blue.
Lyona's embrace to remain warm.
For the first time, this world felt like home.
And that is how our story ended—not as a legend, not as a tragedy…
but as two souls who finally found their way home to each other.
~ End
((Author)): Yes, that's how this story ends. Maybe we need strength to rise again. But we also need a place to return to—not just a place to stay and sleep, but a place that can share laughter and wounds and ease our exhaustion. A home is not only a big or small place to live in, but also a home that makes us feel comfortable and safe—when we are with the ones we love and cherish. (I typed this while listening to the song I Wanna Be Yours)
:)
((Author)): there's still a bonus chapter, type continue if you want...