"Huh? There's no way those bastards are sorry! They always claim what they do is righteous! I don't care if he's your boyfriend but I'm not accepting any of this!" Caturwauled Kael with an intense gaze.

"I understand that it's hard for you to take in, but if you don't believe me you may see for yourself," Eve said.

They head out to the front yard where Eris and Ren are. Ren approaches Kael...

"Oh, Voss. I'm sorry for burning the right side of your face, I just wanted to assert dominance. But after speaking with Eve, I'd like to make up for it," Ren said while rubbing the back of his head.

(Anyone can tell at first glance that something is wrong.) Kael thought to himself.

"Please forgive him, Kael. I promise to set him straight if he happens to repeat it," Eve pleaded.

(I don't like this feeling, but Eve has never lied to me before. Maybe I'll hold her to her word.) Kael added, "Alright... guess I'll do that."

"Thank Goodness. Now my best friend and boyfriend can finally get along. We should celebrate it with the ruined city visit that we've planned," Eve said while wrapping her arm around Kael with a smile.

"Are you sure, Eve? That area is considered restricted, and everyone is forbidden to set foot in it," Eris said.

"You don't have to worry about that. I know how to get us through," Eve replied.

"Fine, as long as we're doing it all together," Eris said.

"So get changed, Kael. We're heading out now," Eve said.

"Right..." Kael exclaimed in agreement.

After a few minutes, Kael leaves his house dressed in a baggy white t-shirt, black trousers, and white-grey sneakers.

"Now, let's all head out for the City of Lunaris!" Eve yelled in excitement.

(She's as energetic as ever.) Kael said to himself with a smile on his face.

They all climb Eris's mobile and head for the City of Lunaris. As they're driving to Lunaris, Kael is seated by the window with his hand on his cheek. Eve then looks back at him and smiles at him, relaxing him. After thirty minutes of driving, they arrive at the station that's the entrance to Lunaris.

"We've arrived," Eris said.

The car stops, and they all get off. They see red tape placed around the station's entrance.

(This area is restricted. Eve isn't the kind to do risky things like this.) Kael thought to himself.

"You kids!"

They all look and see two Astral Magus walking up to them.

* Astral Magus Uniform (Male): Symbol: An Astral Emblem over the left chest, resembling an open book encircled by an orbiting star. Tier badges are worn on the left shoulder (silver, gold, or platinum depending on the Magus’s level.) Jacket: A fitted midnight blue blazer with a high mandarin collar, trimmed in silver.Constellation patterns embroidered on the back in subtle golden threads. Sleeves have thin silver lines running along the edges, giving a sleek, modern touch. Optional detachable cloak for formal events, flowing and lined with shimmering silver fabric. Shirt: Crisp white button-up with a faint starry pattern that becomes visible under specific lighting. A silver tie or scarf with a gold constellation design. Pants: Tailored midnight blue trousers with silver seams along the sides. A subtle, embossed emblem of the Astral Academy at the left hip pocket. Shoes: Black, polished ankle boots with silver soles and astral runes faintly glowing on the sides. Accessories:  A silver brooch shaped like a crescent moon on the collar. Gloves with runic designs for handling magic-sensitive objects. (Their cloaks have a symbol of their respective company.)

"Those are...?" Kael hesitated.

"The Gatekeepers," Ren replied and added. "They weren't supposed to be on duty at this hour."

"What are you kids doing here? This was supposed to be a restricted area," the first Astral Magus questioned.

"And the cursed kid is here," the second Magus mumbled.

"We came to explore the city of ruin for our school projects. We're planning on becoming Astral Magus after all," Eve replied.

"This is the wrong area for that. The Zenith Sovereign has prevented entry after all," the Magus said.

"Come on, can't you let us through just for today?" Eve said while emitting a pink aura, which the Magus eventually perceived.

##Heart's Whispers Activated##

*A skill used by Eve.

"Right, we understand. You may go through," the Magus said.

" Thank you, kind sir," Eve said with a smile.

They all return to the Car.

"What did you do? Was that your skill?" Kael questioned.

"Don't worry about it. Shall we head out," Eve said

They drive through the station and arrive at the highway. They see the ruined city through the windows.

"Welcome to Lunaris, once the largest city of Ravenshade. The City had the largest population until one day suffered an attack, turning the whole city into a graveyard. The few survivors were forced to live at the edge of Everglade. This is the sight Lunaris was left with," Eris said.

"Woah..." Kael exclaimed.

"You sure know your stuff," Ren said smugly.

"It was that or fail," Eris said.

They arrive at the entrance of the city's shopping district. They all get off the car and they're looking around the city.

"This city sure did fall hard," Ren said.

"Well I did say it suffered a large-scale Ashenfiend attack," Eris said.

Kael slowly walks towards the entrance of the shopping district.

(This place...) Kael jolts and says, (Shit! I sense bloodlust!)

He tries to react to the bloodlust but Ren knocks him out, dropping him to the floor.

"This Outcast would believe anything because he wants friends," Ren added. "Everything went according to plan, Eve."

A sinister smile emerges on Eve's face and she says, "I thought he would stop attending school after you burnt his face but he still kept coming. This will keep a useless pig like him away forever."

Ren places a collar around Kael's neck and tosses Kael into the shopping district while Eris looks away with her arms folded.

"Let's leave the city before they come," Eve said.

They all head for the car, leaving Kael behind. As they're driving out of the city, Ren adds...

"There's only one reason this city hasn't been restored, and entry by the Astral Magus has been forbidden. That's because..."

As Kael regains consciousness and opens his eyes, he is surrounded by spider-like and wolf-like creatures.

"What?" Kael said with a tearful tremble.

"...The city is home to Ashenfiend creatures."

The wolf-like creature howls at Kael and leaps in for him, but Kael quickly reacts and avoids the attack. Kael quickly gets to his feet and runs for the district entrance.

(Those bastards! They abandoned me. So this was their plan from the beginning. Does that mean Eve...)

The Wolf-like appears behind Kael with a red glow coming from its eyes.

**Jolt**

The Wolf-like creature scars Kael's back, dropping him to the floor.

Kael is down on the ground panting and he thinks to himself, (Just what kind of creature is this? It looks like a wolf and yet not a wolf.)

The creature tries to take a bite off him but Kael manages to evade it. He gets up to his feet and resumes running.

(I need to get out of the city!)

The Spider-like creatures fire off web arrows at Kael and the arrows keep missing him. He's about to leave the district but a barrier has been erected, blocking exit.

"Huh?"

Kael gets pierced from behind with a web arrow. He coughs up blood and falls to a knee. The blood from his wound splatters on the floor.

(What's this? It's so scary. Is this... death?)

Kael thought to himself as two wolf-like creatures leaped in for a bite. He looks back and manages to evade them. Kael forces himself back to his feet and resumes running.

(Why am I struggling? I thought I'd always wanted to die. This is perfect.)

Kael turns the corner and the spider-like creatures are headed for him.

(Is it because death is scary, or--)

An image of Kael's grandfather flashes in Kael's head.

(I need to get out of here!)

As he turns the corner, a wolf-like creature tries to bite him but he falls to his butt. Kael looks back and sees the wolf with an arm in its mouth. He then looks over at his right shoulder and sees his right arm missing.

(I'm going to die!)

Kael continues running while holding his right shoulder.

(I'm hurt in my abdomen and my right arm is gone. I'm losing blood in both.)

A Rhino-like creature strikes Kael, sending him flying to the other side of the street and crashing back-first against the wall. Kael drops to his knees and starts coughing up blood. As Kael drags himself toward the pole, he hears large footsteps approaching his way.

As he rests his back against the pole, he looks up and sees a ten-foot-tall black creature with large horns, and razor-sharp teeth with two large pairs looking down on him.

"That's... A Nethermoth. The most dangerous of all Ashenfiends. Why is it here?" Kael said while trembling with his eyes widened and raised brows (A look of terror).

More Ashenfiends appear, all surrounding Kael.

"Heh heh, this is how I'm going to go out..." Kael clenched his fist and added. "Screw it all! Why does it have to be me!? I didn't ask for this. If only I had the power... then this wouldn't have happened to me."

The Ashenfiends close in on Kael and Kael forces himself to his feet. He pulls out the web arrow in his stomach.

"I'll die and take two of you bastards with me!"

The Ashenfiends all charge in for Kael.

"I'm sorry... Grandfather. But I'm going to join you," Kael said as he resolved himself but still trembled.

<Conditions have been met: Near encounter with death>

<Activating the return of the God of the Shadows>

======

The whole area is swallowed by a dark veil and all the Ashenfiends approaching Kael get pierced by dark spikes created from shadow energy.

Kael's hair turns jet black, silky, and shoulder length and obscures his eyes. A skull mask appears on his face, covering only his mouth, and he gains muscles, regenerates his arm, heals his wounds, and grows a pair of black wings. Kael releases dark energy which puts fear on the Ashenfiends.

With a deep voice, the being possessing Kael's body starts to chuckle and laughs out loud as he destroys the collar around his neck. He then says, "I'm finally out of that dark space. The plan was a success."

The being looks up at all the Ashenfiends surrounding the area. 

"Shall we explore the new timeline," the being said with a white glow coming from his eyes.