As the Valen family was finally reunited—
space suddenly distorted beside them.
CRACK.
A massive portal erupted into existence.
From within it, a man slowly stepped forward.
He wore a long black coat adorned with silver markings that resembled countless intertwined crosses. A dark cloak trailed behind him, brushing against the ruined floor with every step.
His silver hair fell neatly to his shoulders, while a pair of cold steel-gray eyes observed the room without emotion.
An overwhelming pressure accompanied his arrival.
"Rio Valen."
The man gave a slow bow.
"My name is Indrath."
"The First Apostle of the Black Cross."
My eyes widened.
The First Apostle?
Behind him—
Lady Cecillia stepped through the portal with her usual playful smile.
Reina Emberheart followed shortly after.
Countless shadows remained waiting behind them within the portal itself.
Indrath took another step forward.
In his hand rested a severed head.
My eyes narrowed.
The face was unfamiliar.
"The Retainer of the Eternal Night."
He casually tossed the head onto the ruined floor.
THUD.
Then he raised a finger.
"Currently, Oblivion has collapsed."
"The Sovereign has disappeared."
"The Retainer of Death has perished."
"The Retainer of the Primordial Sea is dead."
"The Retainer of Eternal Night is dead."
"The Retainer of Beauty has vanished."
"The Retainer of Time has vanished."
His cold gaze landed upon me.
"That leaves only the Retainer of Judgment."
"The Retainer of Fire."
"And..."
A faint smile appeared.
"The Retainer of Chaos."
Silence followed.
"Anyhow."
"I thank you."
"This war has benefited the Black Cross in numerous ways."
"With the collapse of Oblivion, another variable has been removed from the board."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"Now."
"The true reason for our visit."
His gaze sharpened.
"Rio Valen."
"Join the Black Cross."
"Become the Eleventh Apostle."
The moment those words left his mouth—
a terrifying killing intent exploded inside the throne room.
Lucivar.
Helena.
Both had moved instinctively.
Yet Indrath ignored them entirely.
"As for you, Rio..."
"At first, you were merely another talent among countless others."
"Different."
"But not unique."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"This war has proven how utterly mistaken I was."
Then he suddenly paused.
As though reading something invisible.
"Hm."
"It appears our Lady has taken a liking to you aswell."
My eyes widened.
At that moment—
two colossal lights pierced through the heavens.
The ruined palace shook.
The citizens of Astryx.
The warriors of Verilian.
Everyone looked upward.
One light was golden.
Ancient.
Pure.
The other was purple.
Sinful.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Indrath narrowed his eyes.
"It appears I was mistaken."
"It isn't only Lady Nyxara."
His gaze shifted toward the golden light.
"Even Lady Celestia herself seems interested in you."
The room fell silent.
Then Indrath extended his hand.
"Join us, Rio Valen."
"The Black Cross will cultivate your talent."
"We will make you one of the strongest beings on this planet."
"Become the Eleventh Apostle."
My eyes remained fixed on the two lights above.
Then—
I smiled.
"Previously..."
"I did consider your offer."
My gaze slowly shifted toward my family.
Toward Lucinda.
Toward Helena.
Toward Lucivar.
Then I shook my head.
"I refuse."
Silence.
"I refuse to follow a sinful god."
My eyes fell upon the golden light.
"And I refuse the light that abandoned her own people."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Indrath slowly drew his sword.
The pressure alone made the ruined palace tremble.
His intention was clear.
Kill me.
Now.
Reina's eyes widened.
"Indrath—"
But before the sword could move—
Indrath froze.
His eyes widened slightly.
As though hearing a voice only he could hear.
Several seconds passed.
Then he sighed.
The killing intent vanished.
"Lady Nyxara understands your resolve."
A faint smile appeared.
"For some reason..."
"It seems the Lady likes you."
He slowly sheathed his sword.
"Very well."
"Until next time, Rio Valen."
Cecillia giggled.
Then blew me a kiss.
"Try not to die before we meet again~"
The Apostles slowly retreated.
One after another.
Until only Reina remained.
Silence filled the room.
Her eyes trembled slightly as she looked at me.
Then at my family.
I understood.
Unlike her—
I had found the happiness I had been searching for.
Slowly—
she turned away.
Preparing to leave.
Then I spoke.
"Reina."
She froze.
I smiled softly.
"It doesn't matter what path you choose."
"I'll help you."
Her eyes widened.
"If killing your mother is what will bring you happiness..."
"I'll stand beside you."
"I'll help you see it through."
For several moments—
she simply stared at me.
Then—
a small chuckle escaped her lips.
For the first time in a very long time.
Without another word—
she stepped into the portal.
And disappeared.
The portal slowly closed.
Silence returned.
I stared at the empty space where they had stood.
Then finally—
my legs gave out.
I fell to one knee.
A tired laugh escaped me.
"Haah..."
A small smile appeared on my face.
"It's finally over."
...
With that, the War of Noctara had come to an end.
The remaining cities of the Astryx Empire were swiftly conquered by the Phantom Knights of Verilian.
The citizens of Astryx were forced into mana contracts and now served the Verilian Empire.
Just like that—
The Verilian Empire had become the strongest empire on the continent.
I currently sat across from Azrith.
His lazy eyes glanced toward me.
A faint smirk rested upon his face.
"It seems I was correct in investing in you, Rio."
I ignored the comment.
"I do need to thank you for the help you provided."
"It was you who contacted the Verilian Empire and brought them to Noctara."
Azrith had helped me in numerous ways.
Without him—
many things would have ended differently.
"Of course."
His smile widened slightly.
"But I hope you remember."
"None of this is free."
I nodded.
"In the future, I shall repay this favor."
"Excellent."
Soon after, I stood and left the chamber.
The moment the door closed—
Azrith fell to his knees.
Blood poured from beneath the mask covering his right eye.
His breathing became ragged.
"What...?"
The Oracle's Gaze activated on its own.
CRACK.
Azrith was not merely a Contractor.
He was the Champion of Mithras.
The God of Contracts.
In exchange for serving as Mithras's champion, Azrith had been granted a special eye.
The Oracle's Gaze.
An eye capable of peering into fragments of fate itself.
Although the visions only lasted for moments—
they had guided him throughout his entire life.
The Oracle's Gaze was the very reason he had invested so heavily in Rio.
He had seen countless glimpses of Rio's future.
A future where Rio would become one of the strongest beings on the planet.
But now...
Everything had changed.
The world shattered.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
Reality split apart before him.
Time collapsed.
Space folded inward.
The laws of existence themselves broke apart.
Azrith found himself standing within an endless void.
No stars.
No sky.
No worlds.
Nothing.
Only silence.
Then—
something moved.
A corpse drifted past him.
No.
Not a corpse.
An angel.
Its wings had been torn away.
A divine spear still pierced its chest.
Then another floated by.
A dragon.
Then a titan.
Then a god.
Then another.
And another.
And another.
Millions.
Billions.
An endless sea of corpses.
Entire races.
Entire civilizations.
Entire pantheons.
Dead.
Azrith's body trembled.
Because he recognized some of them.
Gods.
Real gods.
Beings that should have been immortal.
Beings that should never die.
Yet here they floated.
Like discarded trash.
Then—
he felt it.
A pressure.
No.
Pressure wasn't the correct word.
Existence itself was screaming.
Azrith immediately fell to one knee.
Not willingly.
His body simply collapsed.
His soul refused to remain standing.
Then he saw it.
At the very center of the void.
A throne.
A throne made from shattered worlds.
Broken stars.
Dead gods.
Collapsed realities.
And upon that throne—
sat a single figure.
A black crown floated above his head.
Not resting upon it.
Floating.
Beside the throne stood a black dragon.
Ancient.
Primordial.
The dragon alone radiated enough power to destroy worlds.
Yet even it stood silently.
Like a servant.
Within the figure's arms rested a sleeping girl.
White hair.
Peaceful expression.
Protected.
As though she were the only thing left worth protecting.
Then—
the void trembled.
Archangels appeared.
One after another.
Twelve.
Twenty.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Every one of them knelt.
Then the Demon Kings appeared.
Wrath.
Pride.
Greed.
Sloth.
Envy.
Lust.
Gluttony.
And countless others.
Every one of them knelt.
Then the Gods arrived.
Ancient gods.
Primordial gods.
Forgotten gods.
Beings older than creation itself.
And every single one—
lowered their heads.
Azrith's pupils shrank.
Because none of them looked afraid.
No.
They looked obedient.
As though kneeling before that figure was the most natural thing in existence.
Then—
the man upon the throne slowly raised his head.
BOOM.
The Oracle's Gaze shattered instantly.
Cracks spread across Azrith's vision.
Blood exploded from his eye.
Yet before the vision ended—
he saw the face.
Black hair mixed with white.
Eyes darker than the abyss.
A gaze that contained neither hatred.
Nor anger.
Nor madness.
Only indifference.
The same indifference one might have toward ants.
Rio Valen.
And then Azrith heard a voice.
Not from Rio.
Not from the throne.
Not from the void.
From Fate itself.
[The King of Eternity]