Before either side could make a move—
Before Verilian and Astryx could plunge the world into war—
A single figure descended from the skies above Noctara.
Silence followed.
The man wore a black suit beneath a long coat. A dark hat rested atop his head, shadowing most of his features. His hands remained tucked casually within his pockets as he gazed down upon the battlefield with a lazy smile.
As though the gathering of armies below was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Moon.
The Second Retainer.
The Retainer of Time.
His eyes landed on Rio's trembling figure.
"It seems it's about to begin."
Space distorted.
Xeno appeared beside him.
The Retainer of Death crossed his arms.
"Subject 082 should be regaining his memories by now."
A slight frown appeared on his face.
"But it's taking longer than expected."
Moon chuckled softly.
"Don't worry about it."
Then—
The heavens split apart.
Every person present froze.
A figure slowly descended from the sky.
For the first time since the battle began—
The Guardian Knights froze.
The Astryx forces froze.
The Verilian forces froze.
Even Alaric Ryker's pupils contracted.
A man with golden hair emerged from the distortion.
A flawless white uniform adorned his body.
Golden embroidery ran across every edge of the coat, resembling celestial constellations stitched into reality itself.
A black cloak flowed behind him.
Upon his face rested a silver mask.
Simple.
Elegant.
Yet terrifying.
The moment he appeared—
Every Retainer immediately dropped to one knee.
Not hesitation.
Not fear.
Instinct.
Absolute loyalty.
The Sovereign had arrived.
The true ruler of Oblivion.
The one who stood above all Retainers.
The battlefield remained silent.
No one dared speak.
No one dared move.
Even the ocean itself seemed to still.
Alaric felt his heart sink.
How?
He stood at the pinnacle of humanity.
A Ten-Star SS Ranker.
The strongest human alive.
Yet when faced with this man—
He felt insignificant.
Small.
Like a child standing before an endless abyss.
The Sovereign ignored everyone.
He paid no attention to Alaric.
No attention to Lucivar.
No attention to the armies.
His gaze remained fixed upon a single person.
Rio.
Slowly—
He walked forward.
Each step felt as though reality itself bent around him.
Then he stopped before Rio's trembling figure.
A golden key appeared within his hand.
Beautiful.
Ancient.
A faint smile appeared behind the Sovereign's mask.
Rio slowly rose into the air.
The three pillars of light intensified.
Gold.
Red.
Blue.
A storm of energy engulfed the sky above Noctara.
In front of every army.
In front of every king.
In front of every legend gathered upon the battlefield.
A small keyhole appeared upon Rio's forehead.
The Sovereign lifted the key.
And inserted it.
Click.
The sound echoed across the world.
Then the Sovereign leaned forward.
His voice carried amusement.
And anticipation.
"Awaken."
His smile widened.
"My little brother."
At that moment—
The three pillars of light erupted toward the heavens.
...
Rio stood before the endless abyss once more.
he wasn't alone.
Black chains wrapped around his body from head to toe.
Thousands of them.
Each chain seemed to carry a different memory.
A different regret.
A different pain.
Beside him stood another figure.
White hair.
Crimson eyes.
Rio Valen.
The boy from Aetheria.
He too was bound by countless black chains.
Motionless.
Silent.
Like a corpse waiting to awaken.
Neither spoke.
Both simply stared at the memories unfolding before them.
A little boy ran across a living room.
Brown hair.
Black eyes.
A bright smile.
Perhaps four years old.
Maybe five.
"Rio! I told you not to run around before your hair dries!"
"Sorry, mom!"
The little boy laughed.
A man suddenly picked him up.
Black hair.
Black eyes.
A tired but gentle smile.
Rio pouted.
"Dad! I wanted to run a little longer!"
The man flicked his forehead.
"You already made a mess, brat."
"Look at the floor."
Rio glanced down.
Water footprints covered the entire room.
"Hmph."
His mother approached from behind.
A towel landed on his head.
"Stay still."
"Phew!"
Rio struggled immediately.
His parents burst into laughter.
Rio blinked.
Confused.
"Why are you laughing?"
"N-Nothing."
His mother tried holding back her laughter.
Rio immediately understood.
His wet hair had become a complete disaster.
"Hmph."
The memory blurred.
A car moved down a quiet road.
Rio sat upon his mother's lap.
His father hummed while driving.
"So everything's packed?"
"Yep!"
Today was moving day.
A new house.
A new city.
A new beginning.
The little boy couldn't stop smiling.
Then—
"Huh?"
Rio pointed outside.
"Why is that man standing there?"
A figure stood in the middle of the road.
Blonde hair.
Everything else was blurred.
As though reality itself refused to show his face.
"W-Wait—"
"N-No!"
His mother's scream echoed through the car.
The man stepped forward.
The vehicle swerved violently.
The world turned upside down.
And then—
Darkness.
A hospital room.
Rio slowly opened his eyes.
Nurses rushed around him.
Doctors shouted orders.
Machines beeped endlessly.
His eyes drifted toward two figures lying nearby.
Covered in white sheets.
Motionless.
Cold.
"M-Mom?"
"D-Dad?"
Nobody answered.
Hours later—
the verdict came.
Brianna Barnes — Deceased.
James Barnes — Deceased.
The abyss grew silent.
The chained Rio stared at the scene.
His expression didn't change.
As though he had watched this memory countless times already.
Years passed.
The next memory appeared.
Rio wasn't adopted.
He wasn't saved.
He wasn't loved.
He was acquired.
To his aunt and uncle—
he wasn't family.
He was property.
An investment.
A source of income.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
The little boy quickly learned what expectations meant.
And what happened when he failed them.
The memory shifted.
Rio lay on the floor screaming.
Blood covered the room.
Two fingers rested beside him.
His aunt stood above him.
Expressionless.
The punishment for disobedience.
The punishment for failure.
The punishment for existing.
The little boy cried.
And cried.
And cried.
Until eventually—
he stopped.
Then—
a voice emerged from the darkness.
"What do you wish for, little boy?"
A blonde-haired figure stood within the shadows.
His face hidden.
His smile unseen.
Yet Rio could feel it.
The little boy trembled.
"K-Kill them."
Tears streamed down his face.
"P-Please."
"Kill all of them."
The darkness smiled.
...
The chained Rio narrowed his eyes.
"...This was when my parents died."
"...Why am I seeing this?"
"And who was that man?"
The memory changed once more.
A little boy with white hair ran through a garden.
A wooden sword rested within his hands.
"Elder brother! W-Wait for me!"
"I'm tired!"
Laughter echoed ahead.
"Haha!"
"Rio, is that all you can do?"
"Hmph!"
The little boy chased after the figure desperately.
His smile brighter than the sun itself.
The memory shattered.
"E-Elder brother left?"
"B-But that makes no sense."
Lucivar stood before him.
Cold.
Unmoving.
"That doesn't concern you."
"He isn't part of this family anymore."
"That was his wish."
Lucinda stood nearby.
Tears filled her eyes.
"But—"
SLAP.
Helena's hand struck his face.
"No questions."
"Go to your room."
The memory shifted again.
The awakening.
The humiliation.
The laughter.
The hatred.
The isolation.
And finally—
the blood.
Rio Valen standing alone.
His eyes destroyed by his own hands.
The boy staggered forward through an empty road.
Blind.
Broken.
Abandoned.
Until eventually—
he collapsed.
Then a voice appeared.
Amused.
Curious.
Interested.
"What do you wish for, child?"
Rio Valen smiled.
A broken smile.
A smile filled with despair.
"Burn it all."
His voice cracked.
"Burn everything."
The figure hidden within the shadows smiled.
And for the first time—
both chained Rios looked toward one another.
One born on Earth.
One born in Aetheria.
Different worlds.
Different lives.
Different names.
Yet the same answer.
The same despair.
The same hatred.
The same wish.
And somewhere beyond the abyss—
the key had already begun turning.
Click.