Far beyond the walls of the capital, the sun slowly descended toward the horizon, staining the sky with crimson and gold. The evening looked peaceful from afar, almost beautiful, as if the world itself wished to hide the chaos creeping beneath its surface. Yet while the flames of daylight were fading from the heavens, another kind of fire still burned fiercely inside countless hearts.
And inside the royal palace,
The heavy doors closed softly as she stepped out from the king's room. Her elegant figure moved slowly across the silent hall before stopping near the glass window overlooking the kingdom below. For a moment, she simply stood there, her reflection faintly visible against the crimson light.
There was sadness in her eyes.
Not the sadness of fear.
But the sadness of someone already prepared to disappear.
Akidna slowly placed her hand against the cold glass and closed her eyes.
I am Sasha.
Or perhaps…
She used to be.
A faint smile touched her lips before fading almost immediately.
Before reincarnating into this world… that was my name.
Even now, after all this time, it still felt unreal sometimes. Being reborn inside the world of a game sounded absurd, like the kind of fantasy people dreamed about to escape reality. At first, she truly believed she was dreaming.
But reality soon shattered that illusion.
Because the moment she realized this world was real…
She also remembered how cruel it truly was.
This kingdom.
These people.
This fate.
And above all else—
The fate of the girl whose body she now possessed.
Akidna.
The princess destined to be assassinated by the alliance of neighboring kingdoms.
At first, Sasha believed she could change everything easily. She knew the future. She knew every hidden event, every betrayal, every war waiting ahead. Avoiding death should have been simple for someone blessed with such knowledge.
Yet the more she changed…
The more she realized fate was far more stubborn than she imagined.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"Even if I can save myself…" she whispered softly, "that may not be the best future for this kingdom."
Her gaze drifted downward toward the capital below.
People moved through the streets peacefully, completely unaware that their princess was calmly deciding her own death.
"I finally understand it now."
Her expression became gentler.
"If I die… Ash will rise."
The Night Watchers she secretly created would gather behind him. The kingdom would survive the disasters waiting ahead. The future would move toward stability.
And so, after countless nights spent calculating every possible outcome…
She made her choice.
"In my final act," she murmured quietly, "I'll use my death to push Ash forward."
There was no hesitation in her voice anymore.
Only acceptance.
"I just hope… it helps him become someone this kingdom truly needs."
Outside the window, the setting sun looked as though it were melting into the horizon itself.
Akidna stared at it silently.
"Time has come to meet Ash for the first time…"
A faint sadness appeared in her eyes.
"…and for the last."
Yet strangely—
The moment those words left her lips, an uncomfortable feeling spread through her chest.
Unease.
No…
Something stranger than that.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
Everything until now had followed the future she remembered. Every major event. Every tragedy. Every step toward her death.
Yet recently…
The future itself had begun to feel distant.
Unclear.
As if something was disrupting it from the outside.
"And it started after meeting that guy…"
A strange smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
"…Zeo."
The name itself felt abnormal.
Unknown.
Impossible.
Akidna knew every important character in this world. Every hidden villain. Every future hero. Every piece of the story.
But Zeo…
Did not exist anywhere in her memories.
He was like a crack inside reality itself.
After he vanished, they discovered the assassins' den completely destroyed. Not defeated.
Destroyed.
The place looked less like a battlefield and more like reality itself had twisted apart. Even now, remembering that scene sent chills through her body.
And the feeling she sensed there…
It was impossible to explain properly.
As though something had gripped reality itself.
As though the world had weakened for a brief moment.
Her fingers slowly tightened against the glass.
"I think it's all connected to him…"
Then her expression softened slightly.
"…Though if possible…"
Her voice became quieter.
"I wish I had spoken to him a little longer."
—
Outside the palace, atop one of the high towers overlooking the capital, Zeo silently watched the city beneath him.
The evening wind moved through his dark hair as his gaze swept across the kingdom.
The future had become uncertain.
Not only for him.
For everyone.
And somewhere deep inside, Zeo understood the reason.
It was because of him.
Meanwhile, deep beneath the capital—
A man wearing a black and red cloak slowly walked through the dark corridors of Alkhalam Prison.
The prison of the kingdom's most dangerous criminals.
The air smelled of rust, blood, and despair. Countless prisoners stared from behind iron bars with hollow eyes filled with madness.
Death calmly looked around the prison cells.
Searching.
Yet disappointment soon appeared on his face.
Weak.
Pathetic.
To him, these prisoners were nothing more than insects.
But for this kingdom…
They were monsters.
Then suddenly, a wide smile appeared on his face.
"I was wondering who should create chaos…"
Sharp blades emerged from the darkness.
In the next instant—
The prison gates were sliced apart.
Metal screamed.
Chains shattered.
The prisoners froze briefly before madness overtook their expressions.
Death slowly turned away.
"I only need one thing from all of you…"
His smile widened.
"Create havoc."
The next moment—
The underground prison exploded into chaos.
Prisoners surged through the corridors like beasts released from cages. Guards were slaughtered instantly. Flames erupted. Explosions shook the underground halls.
And moments later—
A massive blast echoed from the western side of the capital.
High above the city, Zeo noticed it immediately.
His eyes narrowed toward the rising smoke.
"…The prisoners escaped?"
His expression darkened slightly.
"That wasn't supposed to happen."
Thoughts rapidly connected inside his mind.
The original event had changed because of his interference.
The people who were originally meant to create chaos had already been erased by him.
And now…
The world itself was compensating.
"So instead…"
His gaze sharpened.
"They released the prisoners."
A dangerous realization struck him immediately.
"If the event still seeks balance…"
His eyes turned toward the palace.
"…then Akidna dies tonight."
—
Inside the palace, Akidna herself had already noticed the explosion.
The moment smoke rose into the evening sky, her eyes sharpened instantly.
A young girl rushed toward her and bowed quickly.
"Princess! The prisoners of Alkhalam have escaped! They're rampaging across the western district!"
Akidna's expression turned cold.
"Prepare the Royal Guards."
Her voice carried absolute authority now.
"We move immediately."
The girl hesitated briefly.
"But… who will lead them?"
Akidna turned calmly.
"I will."
No fear existed in her eyes.
Because deep inside…
She already knew this was the night of her death.
And the night Ash would begin to rise.
—
Elsewhere in the capital, Ash stepped outside after hearing the panic spreading through the streets.
Smoke rose into the sky.
Citizens were fleeing.
Guards rushed westward.
Ash quietly stared in that direction.
"Serious criminals…" he muttered.
Then suddenly, another thought crossed his mind.
"Maybe… someone there knows about Themen."
His eyes darkened slightly.
Without wasting another moment, he began walking toward the western district.
Toward fate itself.
But hidden far behind him—
A girl silently followed through the shadows.
One of the Night Watchers.
The female lead of this world.
By Akidna's orders, she had been watching Ash for a long time now.
The shadows twisted softly around her feet as she relayed information back toward the palace.
And when Akidna learned that Ash himself was heading west…
She understood completely.
This was truly the place where destiny would unfold.
Yet even then—
She did not waver.
Standing inside the palace armory, Akidna slowly equipped light silver armor over her royal attire. A massive bow rested at her side while servants prepared her equipment silently.
Her expression remained steady.
Beautiful.
Resolute.
Like someone calmly walking toward death with open eyes.
—
Meanwhile, Zeo wandered through the streets almost absentmindedly.
The screams.
The chaos.
The shifting future.
Everything felt strangely distant to him.
Because even now, he still couldn't fully understand his own feelings toward the people of this world.
They were supposed to be characters.
Nothing more.
Yet recently…
That line had begun to disappear.
Then suddenly, Zeo stopped walking.
A small wooden sign swayed gently above a nearby store.
Book Shop.
Beside him, Razya tilted her head curiously.
"Book shop?" she asked. "Do you like reading?"
For a moment, Zeo remained silent.
Then unexpectedly—
A strange smile appeared on his face.
He slowly stepped into the bookstore, walking quietly between endless shelves covered in old books.
"I don't like books," he said softly.
Razya blinked in confusion.
Zeo's fingers brushed against the spine of a dusty novel.
"Because books contain everything already."
His voice sounded distant.
"The questions. The answers. The ending."
He looked toward the shelves silently.
"There's no mystery in them."
Then his eyes darkened slightly.
"Humans are different."
"They're unpredictable. Incomplete. Full of contradictions."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And maybe… that's what makes us human."
—
At the same time, the western district descended into complete chaos.
Akidna arrived alongside the Royal Guards, her silver armor reflecting the flames spreading through the streets.
The moment she surveyed the battlefield, she immediately gave orders.
"Deploy the containment barrier!"
Mages raised their staffs simultaneously.
A massive magical barrier expanded across the district, sealing the prisoners inside before they could spread further into the capital.
Then—
Three prisoners suddenly charged toward Akidna.
Without hesitation, she drew her massive bow.
A brilliant magic arrow formed instantly.
The prisoners laughed.
To them, she was merely a princess.
A girl.
Weak.
Akidna's expression remained cold.
They are threats to the kingdom.
This is my chance to erase them.
She released the arrow.
The moment it flew forward—
It split into three.
The prisoners' expressions changed instantly.
They tried stopping the arrows with their bare hands.
That was their mistake.
The arrows pierced through them violently, tearing massive holes through their bodies before exploding behind them.
Blood scattered across the street.
All three died instantly.
Akidna didn't even glance at the corpses.
"I need to eliminate the stronger ones first…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"So Ash won't have to face them."
Then she rushed deeper into the battlefield while the Royal Guards followed behind her.
—
At the edge of the barrier, Ash finally arrived.
He slowly touched the magical wall.
And to his surprise—
His hand passed through.
Ash froze.
"…I can enter?"
Confused, he stepped backward again.
This time, he passed outside normally.
His brows furrowed.
"So it doesn't stop me…"
He stared at the barrier thoughtfully.
"But why?"
As he focused on the strange magic—
A man slowly approached him from behind.
—
Inside the barrier, Akidna suddenly sensed danger.
Without hesitation, she fired another massive arrow toward a nearby building.
BOOM.
The entire structure collapsed instantly.
Dozens of prisoners burst out from the rubble holding weapons and releasing abilities wildly toward her.
Akidna fought back immediately.
But their numbers were overwhelming.
Even she began getting pushed backward.
Then suddenly—
Someone forced their way through the barrier.
And in the next instant—
A figure appeared directly beside Akidna.
Too close.
Far too close.
Her eyes widened.
She hadn't sensed his presence at all.
A young boy stood beside her calmly, effortlessly stopping the attacks of several prisoners with one hand.
Akidna froze.
Then Zeo slowly looked back at her.
A strange smile appeared on his face.
As though he had finally reached a decision.
Inside his mind, countless thoughts echoed quietly.
I hate books.
Because all of you were like books to me.
Easy to understand. Easy to predict.
I knew your futures. Your endings. Your suffering.
His gaze softened slightly.
Like shells I created around you.
Fates forcing you toward the same conclusions again and again.
Then his eyes brightened.
But I want you to break those chains.
I want you to prove you're more than characters trapped by fate.
I want you to find futures beyond my imagination.
Lives that truly belong to you.
He looked directly at Akidna.
And smiled.
"I know you'll be the first one to break that shell."
The prisoners attacked again.
But Zeo casually stopped their attacks with his bare hands.
Then suddenly—
His attention shifted elsewhere.
Ash.
Still outside the barrier.
And a prisoner slowly approaching him from behind.
Zeo's thoughts raced instantly.
Should I help Ash… or stay with Akidna?
She can probably handle herself…
Then another thought surfaced.
But if fate still exists… leaving her alone might be dangerous.
At that exact moment—
A man suddenly rushed toward Akidna holding a broken sword.
Slow.
Too slow.
Compared to the other prisoners, he looked insignificant.
So Zeo lowered his guard slightly.
Without even looking properly, he casually grabbed the man's arm while still watching Ash's direction.
Then—
A sharp piercing sound echoed.
Akidna's eyes widened instantly.
Everything happened in a single moment.
The man twisted unnaturally.
His broken sword shot forward with terrifying precision.
Zeo reacted instantly, moving his hand to avoid a fatal strike—
But it was too late.
The blade pierced into his stomach.
Blood spilled across the ground.
For a brief second—
Silence filled the battlefield.
Razya froze.
Even Zeo himself looked slightly surprised.
And above the burning capital—
Night had finally begun to reveal its true shape.