Kyrai was having breakfast with her mother. As she ate, her gaze drifted toward the empty chair at the table, and she felt the absence of someone who usually sat there. The silence felt heavier than usual. While swallowing her food, she glanced at Mary, who looked distant, her expression still shaken by his sudden departure.
Kyrai raised an eyebrow and asked,"Mom… where is Uncle Poul?"
Mary immediately avoided eye contact. Her hands moved nervously as she tried to change the subject."Jay and your father went to the library. They'll be back soon."
"I know that," Kyrai replied calmly. "I know my adorable little brother is full of love for the Saint and went there to try to forget her."
Mary tried once again to steer the conversation away, but her resistance crumbled quickly."Fine… I'll tell you," she said, exhaling. "I give up."
She gave up so easily. I'm truly amazing! Kyrai thought, smiling proudly to herself.
Mary took a moment to steady her breathing before speaking again, while Kyrai continued eating without hesitation. Once she regained her composure, Mary looked at her daughter with a serious expression and said,"Poul went to war this morning."
The moment those words left her mouth, her emotional mask cracked. She stood up quickly and walked toward Kyrai, kneeling beside her to offer comfort.
Kyrai froze. Her eyes trembled, then filled with tears."I didn't get to… to say goodbye to Uncle…" she sobbed.
Meanwhile, Jay stared at a gigantic figure looming in the distance. Smoke rose from its skin as if its body itself was burning, and its eyes glowed with an intense, merciless light.
Shaken, Jay turned to his uncle Luís and asked what that thing was. Luís, however, dropped the book he was holding. His eyes were filled with despair as he whispered,"This… this is the end of our peace… and the beginning of hell."
Hearing those words, Jay's heart tightened painfully. Cold sweat ran down his back as he swallowed hard. Then, suddenly, images of Mary and Kyrai filled his mind.
The instant he thought of them, Jay turned and sprinted away.
Luís heard fast, frantic footsteps. He turned and saw his adoptive son running with all his strength. Panic surged through him as he chased after the boy."Jay, wait!" he shouted anxiously. "Don't run like that! If you do, something could—"
He stopped mid-sentence, struck by a terrifying thought.
Jay, however, was determined to escape the city that was about to be consumed by disaster.I need to warn Mary and Kyrai… or something terrible will happen. Damn it! Why aren't you here right now, Poul?!He ran with everything he had, desperate to save his mother and sister.
"Jay, be careful!" Luís yelled again, but Jay didn't listen.
Suddenly, Jay felt an intense heat approaching. Slowly, he turned his head and saw a shining object flying straight toward him.
Everything slowed.
The world felt distant, unreal. Even his own body refused to respond. He turned his head slightly and met his uncle's desperate gaze. Then he looked up at the darkened sky and thought:
Is this how I'm going to die? Without even living properly in this new life?
A tear rolled down his face.Damn it… I don't want to die.
The sky darkened further, and as if rejecting Jay's death, a rain of lightning descended. One violent bolt struck him directly.
The pain… my body is burning. Muscles, skin—everything. The only thing left is death, waiting for me.
"Jay!!" Luís screamed.
His face went pale as cold sweat drenched him. For a brief moment, he wanted nothing more than to grab a sword and charge at the giant.
Thunder roared. At the same time, a wall collapsed nearby. Gunshots echoed through the city, only to be silenced moments later. Destruction spread everywhere.
Luís rushed toward Jay's body as the lightning finally ceased. He lifted the burned boy into his arms. When he noticed Jay was still breathing, a fragile smile crossed his exhausted face.
Clenching his teeth in rage, he carried Jay toward the healers.I can't fail. I have to save Jay… my friend's son.
Jay was unconscious. His body was burned, immobile, and his muscles refused to respond. His heart weakened slowly, but his mind remained almost intact.
Then, suddenly, Jay opened his eyes.
He found himself standing in the body of his past life, wearing his full suit, his knives at his sides, and the familiar metal ring on his finger. The space around him was completely dark—so dark that even the ground beneath his feet was pitch black.
It felt as though he was standing inside darkness itself.
"What is this place?" Jay asked aloud. "Did I die?"
"This beautiful place is your own mind."
Jay turned sharply toward the echoing voice. He sighed, already recognizing it."Roh… is that you?"
The elemental spirit appeared, walking toward him with a macabre smile."You recognize me just by my voice? Impressive," Roh said, finishing with his usual unsettling laugh.
Jay stared at him, confused and irritated."What the hell is going on? And why is there an electric elemental giant attacking the city?!"
Roh laughed again before answering."He's here because of our fault."
That response left Jay speechless—and angry."What do you mean our fault?" he snapped. "Explain it properly."
Roh responded by raising his middle finger."Well, elementals can feel power when it starts manifesting—especially when it aligns with adaptation and synchronization. Giants are larger and more sensitive than humans, so they sense it faster. Satisfied with the explanation, dickhead?"
"Yes," Jay replied flatly. "I am."
Jay touched his chin, thinking deeply."Roh… what is synchronization?"
Roh glanced at him, then deliberately looked away, which only irritated Jay further.
Jay took a moment to observe his surroundings. His mind felt vast—and empty.I never imagined my mind would be like this. I thought it would be clearer… not swallowed by darkness.
Roh laughed softly.
Jay frowned."What is it now?"
"Nothing," Roh replied. "I'm just amused. This place represents your mind and spirit. And as you can see… darkness has completely consumed it."
He smiled wider."And when I see you trying to reach the light… I feel sad. Because you'll never reach it."
Jay clenched his teeth.
"You belong to darkness," Roh finished calmly.
Jay said nothing.
"Goodbye," Roh said. "Until next time."
Jay regained consciousness with a sharp gasp. Pain assaulted his senses. Heat surrounded him.
He flinched when he noticed a healer's burned corpse lying beside him.
Startled, Jay crawled away. Flames surrounded the area, closing in. Despite the pain, he forced himself to stand and limped toward a narrowing gap between the fires.
Damn it… I don't have the strength to run.
Holding his arm, he staggered forward.I can barely walk. If something appears…
He reached the edge and saw the city in flames. Smoke burned his lungs as he covered his mouth, coughing violently.
Breathing became harder with each step. His vision blurred.There's a sound… but I can't identify it. I can barely hear.
He collapsed.
Lying on the ground, he listened as fire consumed everything.
Explosions shook the area as soldiers continued fighting the giant. Mortars rained destruction.
The giant raised its hand, unleashing lightning upon the battlefield. Then it began searching the burning city.
Eventually, it found a hooded man calmly drinking. Beside him rested a sword forged from darkness itself, its purple blade radiating shadow.
The giant struck—but the man vanished.
Something hit the giant's cheek. Then another blow.
The hooded man stood over the fallen creature, smiling arrogantly."So you destroy a city the moment its strongest soldier leaves?"
The giant growled.
"I only came for one reason," the man thought. To claim my future disciple.
Drawing his blade, he moved.
In an instant, the giant's arm was severed.
Moments later, darkness consumed everything.
With blurred vision, Jay crawled forward. He didn't want to live for himself—he wanted to live for the Saint, Luís, Mary, Noa, and Kyrai.
He heard footsteps.
"I found you."
Strong arms lifted him.
Luís stared at the burning city, rage and bitterness consuming him. He had saved his daughter—but almost lost his wife.
A boy approached him.
"Uncle Luís… I lost my friend too, didn't I?"
Luís embraced him."Yes… I failed."
Noa laughed through tears.
An elf commander approached and spoke coldly:"You will all be taken to the elven continent. The journey will last six days."