The first rays of morning light pierced through the window, the remnants of the previous night's chaos still lingering in Shiebe's mind. His body ached as he groggily pushed himself out of bed, the same habitual movement he'd repeated countless times after waking from the loops. His gaze drifted toward the window, where the sprawling city lay bathed in the soft golden hue of dawn.
Shiebe: "The power to control time…" His thoughts wandered to that woman—the one who had given him a glimpse into the very mechanics of fate itself. Yet, despite his attempts, he had never managed to make contact with her again after that night. "There must be others like her… In the council, maybe?" He shook his head, trying to focus. "This world's power scaling is insane…"
The world outside was calm, yet within the confines of his small, cluttered room, Shiebe's mind roamed far and wide. He turned his attention to the desk before him, where books of all kinds lay haphazardly. One in particular had caught his eye—a thick volume detailing the continents and races of this strange world. The edges of the pages were well-worn, a testament to how often he'd turned them over in search of answers.
He flipped the book open to the section on the continents, his eyes scanning the words with a mixture of curiosity and distant contemplation.
Shiebe: "Reina, the continent of magic… Heida, the Land of Night… Titus, stuck in a never-ending war… Mytus, a floating city… Runia, locked in tradition… Yelonoir, frozen in time…" He muttered under his breath, each name invoking a sense of wonder, a yearning to explore these lands. "So many places… so many mysteries…"
He closed the book and leaned back in his chair, staring out the window once more, his thoughts distant. "Mytus… I'd like to visit there one day. It sounds like a place where technology might feel more familiar to me." The thought was fleeting, quickly drowned out by the overwhelming questions swirling in his mind.
He flipped to the next section of the book—this time, the races of the world. Seven in total, not counting the Z-Mons, those dreaded beasts of destruction, too fearsome to be considered a proper race. There were Humans, Orcs, Goblins, Dragonfolk, Beastfolk, Elves, and the enigmatic Hybrids—a mix of two races, born of parents from different backgrounds.
The Dragonfolk, the oldest race, were described as towering and proud, with scales that shimmered like molten gold. The Elves, next in line, were as ancient as the trees, their grace and wisdom unmatched by any other. Humans, though younger, had managed to carve their place in the world with sheer perseverance. Orcs, Goblins, and Beastfolk followed, each with their own peculiarities and strengths. But it was the Hybrids that piqued Shiebe's interest the most. They were often seen as an anomaly—born of unions between two vastly different races, their existence challenged the very notion of purity in bloodlines.
Shiebe: "I never thought I'd be living in a world like this. I accepted my death, but here I am… living again." He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to collect his racing thoughts.
Suddenly, a noise shattered the stillness of the room. A deafening thud, followed by another, and then a third. His heart skipped a beat. What the hell was that?
He rushed to the door, heart pounding, and reached for the knob. As he did, the hallway outside was filled with thick, acrid smoke, and the unmistakable sound of stone breaking—something had crashed through the walls.
Shiebe: "What in the world…?"
He darted through the smoke, moving toward the source of the noise. His eyes widened in disbelief when he saw it.
A massive hole had been torn into the palace walls, revealing the view of the city beyond. And in the center of the destruction was a red boulder, crackling with dangerous energy. Shiebe reached for it instinctively, but as his fingers neared, a small spark flared to life. He quickly recoiled.
Shiebe: "Damn it…"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound echoed once more from the hall ahead of him. A sense of dread settled in his chest as he realized the magnitude of the threat. "Are we under attack?"
He dashed toward the main hall, hoping to find answers there. Eros—he was the most likely person to be there, and if anyone could explain what was happening, it would be him.
But when Shiebe reached the hall, his blood ran cold. Three gargantuan boulders—blue, green, and red—blocked the entrance. They were easily three times the size of the one he had seen earlier. The very sight of them was enough to make him hesitate. They crackled with an energy he could feel even from a distance.
Not daring to get closer, he carefully formulated a plan. "Here goes nothing." He took a deep breath, then with a swift motion, reached for the boulders, maintaining a safe distance.
BOOM!
A violent explosion of smoke and dust erupted, sending Shiebe stumbling back. His eyes stung, and he quickly shielded them with his arm, hoping to avoid the debris. A deep voice called out from within the haze.
???: "Hmph... Seems someone has gotten through my defenses."
Shiebe's heart skipped a beat. The voice was unfamiliar but undeniably powerful, carrying the unmistakable tone of a noble. He blinked through the lingering smoke, his gaze finally landing on a silhouette.
???: "I presume you are Shiebe Zackaria of the Zackaria Family. It seems your power lives up to your family name."
The man's voice was deep, devoid of warmth, as if his words were laced with disdain. The way he spoke was enough to send a shiver down Shiebe's spine. This man—he was no ordinary noble. He was a figure of authority, and one who likely commanded immense power.
Shiebe: "Who are you?"
Before he could brace himself, a sharp, high-pitched sound filled the air.
???: "Shiebe! Get back!"
A small rock, shaped like a bullet, whipped past him, scratching his cheek. Shiebe hissed in pain, feeling the sting of the cut as blood began to seep from the wound.
???: "Father! What are you doing?!"
A frantic cry came from behind the noble figure, and as the smoke cleared further, the scene before Shiebe became all too clear.
There, on the floor, lay Eros—the Monarch of Life—wounded gravely. His wives stood by his side, desperately trying to aid him, but the damage had already been done. And standing over him, with a look of cold contempt, was a man Shiebe had only heard whispers of.
Shiebe: "Louis De Louch…"
Louis De Louch: "To think my daughter was kept in this failure of a kingdom…"
Louis's voice dripped with disgust as he surveyed the ruined hall.
Shiebe: "What's going on?"
Louis De Louch: "I've come to take back my daughter. This place is not fit for her. I'm done here."
But Shiebe couldn't let him walk away with Zaneff, not after everything she had been through.
Shiebe: "Wait!"
Shiebe stepped forward, blocking Louis's path.
Eros: "Louis, we can talk about this."
Louis stopped, his grip on Zaneff's hand tightening. Eros, supported by his wives, slowly pushed himself to his feet, blood staining his robes.
Louis De Louch: "There is nothing to talk about. My daughter has been taken from us, and I will bring her back where she belongs."
Shiebe: "You're going to put her back into that hellhole?"
Louis De Louch: "What…?"
Louis's tone was sharp, but Shiebe didn't falter.
Shiebe: "I found Zaneff when she escaped that place. The people there were willing to hurt a child like me. That's all I need to know about what kind of place it is."
Louis's lips curled into a mocking smirk.
Louis De Louch: "Is that so? Then I will have a word with the staff. Goodbye."
But Shiebe wasn't about to let this go.
Shiebe: "Sorry, sir, but I don't believe you." He stepped forward, his voice unwavering. "The events that just transpired here make it hard for me to take you at your word."
Louis's smirk faded, replaced by an expression of cold irritation. He released Zaneff's hand, turning toward Shiebe with a look that could freeze a man's soul.
Louis De Louch: "I don't need your trust, child. You may be a Zackaria, but you're still just a child. Your opinions mean nothing to me."
Louis grabbed Shiebe by the shirt and lifted him off the ground effortlessly, his eyes burning with contempt.
Louis De Louch: "Now stay out of my way."
BAM!
The sound of a punch echoed through the hall. But it wasn't Shiebe who had been struck. No, it was Eros who had made his move.
Eros: "Son of a bitch!"