Silence once again reigned in the restored arena. Not a whisper of wind, not a single cry—just that strange peace, suspended in time.
Leon lay motionless on the ground, his face covered in golden dust. His chest rose and fell slowly, as if an invisible force was calling him back to himself.
Suddenly… his finger twitched.
A faint beam of light pierced through the clouds above, landing directly on him.
His heart beat slowly… then stronger… then stronger still.
A pulse of radiant energy surged through his body.
His eyes opened.
But they were no longer the same.
Once dark and tormented, they now glowed with a quiet, almost divine light. Leon slowly sat up, his trembling hands searching for support on the ground.
Leon (in a hoarse and confused voice):
— Where… am I…?
He reached for his chest. A warm presence still burned within him—the power of Faith, still active even after he'd blacked out.
Jason (approaching with a relieved expression):
— You're alive, Leon. And you did more than survive. You awakened something… something few beings in this universe can even comprehend.
Leon looked up at Jason, finally recognizing him.
Leon:
— Jason…? The future… the battle… I felt… a light guiding me.
Deity of Time (calmly stepping forward):
— That light… is Faith. The First Gift. I did not awaken it—it was your soul that answered, without even knowing it.
Leon stared at his hands, still marked by divine energy, and whispered:
Leon (with emotion):
— So this power… has been inside me all along?
Deity of Time:
— Yes. And this… is only the beginning.
At that moment, a gentle wind swept across the arena, lifting the dust like a soft breath. The sky was clearing. The future remained uncertain… but one truth now stood strong:
Leon was no longer just a survivor.
He was a bearer of hope.
Léon sat still for a moment, still shaken by what he had just experienced. He could feel a residual current of energy coursing through his body, as if the light of the deity hadn't completely left his veins.
Jason slowly approached, his face marked by exhaustion but also deep respect.
Jason (sincerely):
— You did what even I couldn't do… You faced a creature beyond time, without even understanding half of what you had become.
Léon raised his eyes, his gaze full of questions.
Léon:
— That wasn't me… It felt like… a force was moving through me.
Deity of Time (stepping toward them, her voice echoing like something ancient):
— You're not wrong, Léon. The power you manifested was not born of will alone. It is a gift. The Gift of Faith. Only those chosen before birth can carry it.
Léon tried to stand, but his legs were still trembling.
The deity raised her hand, and instantly, a soft light surrounded Léon, healing his muscles and easing his pain.
Deity of Time:
— Rest now, bearer of Faith. You're only at the beginning of your awakening. Greater trials await you—far more complex than today's.
She then turned to Jason.
Deity of Time:
— And you, traveler from the future… I have restored you. Your energy is whole again. But your mission is just beginning. You owe a debt to this era. And to him.
Jason bowed his head, aware of the weight in her words.
Jason:
— I accept it. Give me a chance to make right what was broken.
The deity nodded.
With a simple wave of her hand, her power expanded across the entire region: the arena was fully restored, the cracks in the ground closed, and even the dark clouds above disappeared, replaced by a soft, reassuring light.
The guard, still weak, opened his eyes again, healed by the divine energy. He stood up slowly, tears in his eyes as he saw Léon standing.
A solemn calm settled in.
But deep in the Deity of Time's gaze… a hidden worry lingered.
Deity of Time (softly, to herself):
— This was only the beginning. If Faith has awakened… then the Forgotten shall not be far behind.
Peace reigned once again in the restored arena. Leon, still weak, was breathing slowly. Jason remained at his side, silent. The guard, standing a few steps away, watched the scene with gratitude. Everything seemed finally over.
But at the heart of this newfound peace, a cold chill swept through the air.
The Deity of Time froze.
Her usually serene eyes darkened, as if an invisible shadow had brushed against the fabric of the present. Slowly, she turned her head toward the sky, her gaze piercing through dimensions.
Deity of Time (whispering):
— It's too soon... I didn't think the Void would feel the awakening of Faith already...
Jason frowned, intrigued.
Jason:
— The Void? What is that?
The Deity of Time didn't respond immediately. She raised her arms, and an image appeared in the air, like a tear between two worlds.
On the other side… a black void. Without light. Without sound. Without time.
A massive, shapeless silhouette with blurred edges seemed to watch from this absolute emptiness. No face. No eyes. Just a presence that pulled everything toward eternal silence.
Deity of Time (deep voice):
— The Void is an ancient force... older than me. It doesn't destroy—it erases. It has no purpose, no anger, no desire. It exists to wipe out anything that dares rise too high… anything that defies the natural order of emptiness.
Leon felt a cold sweat run down his spine.
Leon (weakly):
— And… it's coming for me?
The Deity of Time looked away, almost sorrowfully.
Deity of Time:
— Not only you. It's coming for Faith itself. And for those who try to rekindle the world's memory. Its return was inevitable the moment your gift awakened.
She turned toward Jason and the guard.
Deity of Time:
— We no longer have the luxury of waiting. You must prepare. Leon, you must master your power… before the Void crosses the Gates of Consciousness.
A deep rumble echoed in the distance… as if the sky itself was holding its breath.
The world had been saved—but only for a moment. A greater war was coming. A war not against monsters… but against the erasure of all humanity has been, is, and could become.