Scy's POV
Commander Arvion's presence lingered long after he left.
Even without looking back, I could still feel the weight of his words pressing against my thoughts. He wasn't lying. The next one they would send wouldn't be like him. It wouldn't be a test.
It would be execution.
"…Someone I can't hold back against," I muttered.
Natalia looked at me, her expression uneasy. "You're thinking about what he said, aren't you?"
"…Yeah."
"…Are we really going to stay here?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth was—
I didn't know if staying was the right choice anymore.
But running wasn't either.
"…We stay," I said finally.
She didn't argue.
She just nodded.
"…Then we get stronger."
"…Exactly."
That night—
I couldn't sleep.
Not because of fear.
But because something felt… different.
Stronger.
Closer.
"…Again…"
That same feeling.
The void.
Before I even realized it—
I was already there.
Standing in that endless darkness.
Silent.
Empty.
But not alone.
"…You came back," the voice said.
I didn't look around.
"…I didn't choose to."
"…You did."
Silence.
Then—
"…Tell me something."
The darkness shifted slightly.
"…Why me?"
For the first time—
the presence didn't answer immediately.
"…This world…"
It began slowly.
"…is not stable."
The void around me changed.
Images appeared.
Not clear.
But enough.
A world filled with magic.
Kingdoms.
Creatures.
Power.
Then—
cracks.
"…Long ago, this world was divided."
The images shifted.
"…Humans."
"…Demons."
"…And something beyond both."
"…The war nearly destroyed everything."
I watched as the world burned.
Cities collapsed.
Creatures fell.
Even the sky itself seemed to tear apart.
"…In the end…"
The image froze.
"…balance was forced."
"…But balance is fragile."
The cracks returned.
Wider.
Deeper.
"…And now…"
The voice grew quieter.
"…it's breaking again."
I stared at the scene.
"…So what does that have to do with me?"
Silence.
Then—
"…You are not bound to this world."
My eyes narrowed.
"…Because I was reincarnated."
"…Yes."
"…That's why you chose me?"
"…Partly."
The images shifted again.
This time—
I saw myself.
From before.
My old life.
Walking.
Empty.
Meaningless.
"…You had nothing."
The words echoed.
"…No attachments."
"…No direction."
"…No fear of losing anything."
Silence.
Then—
"…That makes you dangerous."
I frowned.
"…That doesn't make sense."
"…It does."
The voice continued.
"…Those who have everything… hesitate."
"…Those who have nothing…"
The darkness around me grew heavier.
"…can become anything."
For a moment—
I didn't speak.
"…So you gave me power."
"…No."
The answer came instantly.
"…You already had the potential."
"…I only awakened it."
Silence.
"…And what am I supposed to do with it?"
The void shifted one last time.
The broken world appeared again.
Cracks spreading.
Slowly.
Inevitable.
"…That…"
The voice faded slightly.
"…is your choice."
Everything disappeared.
I opened my eyes.
Back in the room.
"…Scy?"
Natalia was beside me.
"…You're awake?"
"…Yeah."
I sat up slowly.
My mind was still processing everything.
"…Something happened," she said.
"…Yeah."
"…What is it?"
I looked at my hand.
Then at her.
"…This world is breaking."
She froze.
"…What…?"
"…And somehow…"
I clenched my fist slightly.
"…I'm involved."
Silence filled the room.
"…Do you regret it?" she asked softly.
"…Being here."
"…Having that power."
I thought about it.
For a moment.
Then—
"…No."
Because for the first time—
I had something.
A purpose.
A direction.
A reason.
"…Then that's enough," she said.
I stood up.
Walked toward the window.
Looked outside.
"…They're coming."
I could feel it.
Stronger than before.
Heavier.
Different.
"…Not one."
"…Not five."
"…An army."
Natalia's expression tightened.
"…Already…?"
"…Yeah."
Far in the distance—
beyond the city—
I could feel them.
Multiple presences.
All moving in one direction.
Toward me.
"…So this is how it begins."
A faint smile appeared on my lips.
"…Good."
Because now—
I finally understood.
This wasn't just about survival anymore.
This wasn't just about power.
This was about—
what I would choose to become.
And this world—
had already chosen me.