With a face twisted in pain, and clenched teeth… Iris muttered bitterly,
"I'm truly… afraid of dying."
He had always believed he wouldn't hesitate when the time came.
He had lived long enough, and it wouldn't be so bad to throw his life away for those younger than him.
But in that final moment, he didn't think like a great lord or a commander.
He simply thought like a human being.
A human who feared death.
"I'm sorry…"
Iris apologized—to the empty air before him.
The pain made him hallucinate, seeing faces that no longer existed.
It felt like he was about to lose himself completely.
And just as the madness was about to consume him…
The only device that survived within his burned clothing lit up.
It let out a mechanical beep and flashed with a red light.
Iris hastily pulled it out, gazing at it with tear-filled eyes.
A few seconds later, he pressed the single button and answered the call.
Before him, a holographic figure appeared .. a familiar young man.
