Raen stood amidst the ruins of the city, his eyes surveying the devastation he had left behind. The wind carried the scent of smoke and blood, while the scattered corpses told the story of a battle that had ended only moments ago.
There was no regret in his heart.
There was only one question echoing in his mind:
"How much longer until the entire world falls?"
This place was just another stepping stone on his path to the abyss, but he knew the organization would not remain idle any longer. He was no longer just a specter lurking in the shadows—he had become a threat that could not be ignored.
"You were here."
A voice came from behind, calm yet filled with certainty. Raen turned slowly, only to find the silver-eyed woman standing atop a destroyed rooftop, watching him without a hint of emotion.
"You again..." he murmured, unsurprised.
"Did I not tell you? I am always watching."
He didn't respond. He simply stared at her in silence.
"You've chosen your path, Raen Earthon. But have you thought about what will happen when you reach its end?"
Her gaze pierced into his very soul, as if searching for something hidden deep within him.
But he had no answer.
"The end?" he said coldly. "I don't believe in such a thing. Everything can be reshaped, rewritten… even fate itself."
The woman smiled—not out of mockery or admiration, but with a sorrowful understanding.
"Even fate has its own rules."
At that moment, Raen felt something stir within him. A strange pulse, like a distant whisper echoing from the depths of his being.
"You are getting closer..."
This was no ordinary voice. It was familiar in an unsettling way, like a shadow of something that had always been inside him, yet he had never noticed before.
He clenched his fists and looked at the black butterfly hovering beside him.
"What are you hiding from me?"
But it did not answer.
Before he could think further, he sensed a dark energy gathering in the air. He turned sharply, his eyes widening as he saw another figure standing just a few meters away.
The man was tall, his body draped in a dark cloak, but the most terrifying thing about him was the aura that surrounded him—it resembled darkness itself, yet it was far more than mere shadow.
"Finally, I've found you."
His voice was deep, carrying an undeniable power.
Raen did not move.
"And who might you be?"
The man did not answer immediately. Instead, he slowly raised his hand, and only then did Raen realize the horrifying truth.
A black butterfly hovered over the man's shoulder.
Identical to his own.
But that was impossible.
"What... is this?"
The man finally smiled, but his smile was nothing more than the beginning of the catastrophe to come.
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To be continued…
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