Someone had been listening to them from behind.
When they turned around, they saw him.
"Boss… you've arrived," Number Seven said respectfully.
Their boss walked forward calmly and sat down in front of everyone. His presence alone was enough to silence the room.
"I called you here for a reason," he said in a steady voice. "Among you, two will have to carry out a special mission."
Number Five stepped forward.
"What kind of mission… that required you to summon us personally?"
Meanwhile…
Ayal's body had completely recovered. He was now resting in his room.
Sitting quietly on the bed, memories of everything that had happened began flooding his mind.
He couldn't stop thinking.
"I don't even know what kind of body I have now…" he muttered softly. "I need to understand what's inside me."
After saying that, he adjusted his posture and sat properly on the bed. Slowly, he closed his eyes.
The moment his eyes shut—
They suddenly snapped open.
But what he saw made him freeze in shock.
He was no longer in his room.
He was standing in a place beyond imagination.
The sky was dark. A suffocating aura filled the air.
Countless people surrounded him, crying desperately—
"Save us!"
"Please… save us!"
They grabbed his legs, pulling him down as if he was their last hope.
"I… I can't—" Ayal tried to speak, but no words came out.
They were dragging him downward.
A terrifying dark aura covered everything. His body wouldn't move. It was as if invisible chains were binding him.
He couldn't understand what was happening.
Then suddenly—
"Ayal."
Someone called his name.
Everything changed in an instant.
The dark aura disappeared.
The sky turned bright blue.
Below him was clear white water that reflected the light like a mirror.
It was peaceful. Beautiful. Unreal.
"Ayal."
His name was called again.
He slowly turned around—
And froze.
Standing in front of him was… himself.
The same face. The same eyes.
But the other Ayal was wearing pure white clothes. A faint smile rested on his lips.
Ayal stared in disbelief.
"Who… are you?" he asked. "Why do you look like me?"
The other Ayal smiled gently.
"I am you."
"What?"
"You are me. And I am you."
"That makes no sense!" Ayal shouted. "How is that even possible?"
The other Ayal stepped closer.
"I am the side of you… that you show to no one."
Ayal frowned.
"My side? Then what about the dark aura I saw before? Who was that?"
For a moment, the other Ayal's expression darkened.
"I know what you're thinking," he said quietly. "You're not a fool. If I am you, and you are me… then there is no reason for me to lie."
Ayal's mind was filled with questions.
"I know you want answers," the other self continued. "But I won't give you everything."
Ayal clenched his fists.
"I have power… power beyond imagination. But I don't know how to use it. When I was about to die… you spoke to me. You told me to give you my body. That was you, wasn't it?"
"Yes," the other replied calmly. "That was me."
"Then you were the one controlling everything?"
"Yes."
Ayal stepped back.
"If you're my side… then why do you look different? Why do you feel different? How can you say we are the same?"
The other Ayal looked at him deeply.
"When you came to this world… you gained everything you ever wanted. In your previous life, you suffered. You didn't even want to live anymore."
Ayal's heart trembled.
"But now you are in a world of gods. You have power. You have possibilities."
He paused.
"Tell me… what was your true desire?"
Ayal couldn't answer.
"You wanted to become a God… didn't you?" the other said softly. "A God who controls destiny with his own hands."
Silence filled the space.
"Wasn't that your wish?"
Before Ayal could respond—
Everything began fading.
The white water. The blue sky. The other him.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Ayal suddenly opened his eyes.
He was back in his room.
Sweat covered his forehead.
"So… the one inside me… is also me?"
His mind was spinning.
Was he brought to this world for a reason?
Why were the gods—once allies—now enemies?
Countless questions filled his head.
He held his head tightly.
"What am I supposed to do…?"
It felt like his mind would break.
Then a single thought appeared.
"If I was brought here… then I must have a purpose."
He slowly stood up from the bed.
"…First, I need strength."
He grabbed his clothes and walked outside.
"Today… I'll start learning the sword."
Outside, students were already gathering on the academy road—both boys and girls.
Ayal looked around, trying to understand what was happening today.
Then suddenly—
"Ayal!"
Someone called his name from behind.
He turned around—
And saw…