Darkness.
Endless… suffocating darkness.
Kael couldn't feel his body.
Couldn't feel pain.
Couldn't even tell if he was still alive.
Only one thing remained—
Regret.
Lina…
A faint sound echoed.
Footsteps.
Soft. Careful.
Drawing closer.
"…You're still conscious."
That voice again.
Gentle.
Almost… relieved.
Kael forced his eyes open.
Everything was blurry at first.
Shadows.
Stone walls.
Chains.
A cold, damp smell filled the air.
A prison.
Deep beneath the Demon Castle.
His vision slowly cleared.
And then—
He saw her.
A girl stood before him.
Silver hair cascading down her back, glowing faintly in the darkness. Small black horns curved from her head, and behind her—
A pair of dark wings, folded neatly.
Her crimson eyes locked onto his.
Not with hatred.
Not with cruelty.
But with something far more dangerous.
Compassion.
"…Why?" Kael's voice came out as a dry whisper.
"Why… am I still alive…?"
The girl stepped closer.
Chains rattled softly as Kael tried to move—but his body refused.
He had nothing left.
No strength.
No mana.
Nothing.
"…Because you haven't completely faded yet," she said.
Her gaze drifted briefly to his chest.
"…And because you're different."
Kael let out a weak, bitter laugh.
"Different…?"
His lips cracked as he spoke.
"I wasn't different enough… to save her."
The girl didn't respond immediately.
For a moment, silence filled the cell.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
"…You loved her."
It wasn't a question.
Kael's eyes trembled.
"…More than anything."
"…I see."
Her expression softened.
But there was something behind it.
Something hidden.
"…Then you understand," she said quietly.
Kael frowned weakly.
"Understand… what?"
She stepped even closer now.
Close enough that he could see the faint trembling in her fingers.
"What it means… to lose everything."
Kael's breath caught.
For a brief moment—
Her composed expression cracked.
Pain flashed across her eyes.
Deep.
Endless.
"…This war," she continued, her voice low, "is not what you think it is."
Kael forced himself to focus.
"…What… are you talking about…?"
She looked at him.
Directly.
"Humans are not the only ones being sacrificed."
His mind struggled to process her words.
"…That's… impossible…"
"Is it?"
Her question lingered in the air.
Before Kael could respond—
She raised her hand.
A faint glow appeared.
Soft at first.
Then—
Blinding.
A crystal.
No—
Not just a crystal.
It pulsed.
Like a heartbeat.
Power surged from it.
Not mana.
Not demonic energy.
Something far more ancient.
Far more terrifying.
Kael's instincts screamed.
"…What is that…?" he whispered.
The girl stared at the crystal.
Her grip tightened slightly.
"A mistake," she said.
"…One that should never have existed."
The light intensified.
Filling the entire cell.
"…But it's the only way to change everything."
Kael's fading consciousness flickered.
"…Change…?"
She looked back at him.
"…You don't want to die like this."
Not a question.
A statement.
Kael's fingers twitched weakly.
Images flashed through his mind—
Lina's smile.
Her voice.
Her last words.
"Live…"
"…No," he rasped.
The girl stepped forward.
Now standing right in front of him.
"Then take it."
Before Kael could react—
She pressed the crystal into his chest.
"—GHK!"
Pain exploded.
It felt like his body was being torn apart from the inside.
Like something foreign—
Something monstrous—
Was forcing its way into his very soul.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH—!"
The crystal melted into him.
Vanished.
And then—
Silence.
Kael's body went still.
"…Good," the girl whispered.
"…It accepted you."
A faint glow began to spread across his chest.
Cracks of light.
Like something inside him was awakening.
Then—
A voice.
Cold.
Mechanical.
Ancient.
[System initializing…]
Kael's eyes snapped open.
[Host detected.]
[Compatibility: Confirmed.]
[Universe Core System activated.]
"…System…?" Kael breathed.
The girl watched him carefully.
"…Listen to me."
Her voice was urgent now.
"You don't have much time."
Kael's vision flickered as strange symbols appeared before his eyes.
Unreadable.
Endless.
"…What is this…?" he muttered.
"You're dying," she said.
"Even with the Core… your body won't survive this state."
Kael's heart sank.
"…So this is pointless…"
"No."
Her voice cut through his thoughts sharply.
"I can send you back."
Everything stopped.
"…Back?" Kael whispered.
"To before this happened."
His pupils shrank.
"To a point where you can change everything."
His heart began to pound.
Weak.
But alive.
"…Why…?" he asked.
"Why help me…?"
She hesitated.
Just for a moment.
"…Because I failed too."
Her eyes lowered slightly.
"…And this time… I want to be saved."
Kael froze.
Saved…?
Before he could ask—
She stepped even closer.
Her hand pressed against his chest—right where the crystal had disappeared.
A strange warmth spread through him.
"…I will bind you with a pact," she said.
Symbols ignited around them.
Dark.
Ancient.
"…If you accept this power…"
Her crimson eyes met his.
Deep.
Unwavering.
"…Then you must come back for me."
Kael's breath shook.
"…Who are you…?"
For the first time—
She smiled faintly.
"…The one you must save."
The world began to collapse.
Light swallowed everything.
[Critical state detected.]
[Time regression protocol initiating…]
"…Wait—!"
Kael reached out.
"…Tell me your name—!"
Her voice echoed—
Fading.
"…Astra…"
And then—
Everything went white.
[Regression complete.]
Kael's eyes snapped open.
Sunlight streamed through a window.
Birds chirped outside.
A familiar ceiling.
A familiar room.
His breath caught.
"…This is…"
His hands trembled as he slowly raised them.
Alive.
Whole.
No wounds.
No chains.
Nothing.
"…I'm back…"
A faint glow pulsed beneath his chest.
And then—
[Welcome, Host.]
[Universe Core System fully activated.]
Kael's expression darkened.
"…Arden…"
His eyes turned cold.
"…This time…"
A slow, dangerous smile formed.
"…I'll kill you first."
[To Be Continued…]