“I don’t think I can hold on any longer... Then, I have no choice but to use this power.”

“Even if it costs my life...”

The roar of war filled the air. Around me, the ground was shattered, the sky cracked from magic, and human blood was scattered everywhere.

I stood in the middle of the ruined battlefield, my body full of wounds, my breath heavy.

All the human soldiers stared at me with the same look — hatred.

Their voices echoed, sharp and piercing to my ears.

“You demon! You’d better just die!” shouted one of them.

I bit my lip, holding back the pain in my chest.

But… I’m not a demon.

I’m just a human. A betrayed human.

“Alright, if all of you want me dead…” I said softly while bowing my head.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Then I will give you a farewell gift.”

“A gift?”

“What is that?”

“Such a weirdo, stupid brother!”

That last voice… the one I never wanted to hear.

Kyle.

My own brother.

The one who trapped me.

The one who made me accused of killing our parents.

He smiled cruelly among the human troops, as if enjoying my suffering.

“Look, Shin. The world will never forgive you.”

I stared at him for a long time.

For some reason, at that moment I wasn’t angry anymore. I was just... tired.

My hand slowly rose. Right hand facing the sky, left to the side. The air around me began to tremble, the ground cracked beneath my feet.

“O Lord who has always blessed my deeds in this world...” my voice trembled but was firm.

“I beg you, take my soul as an apology for unlocking this ultimate skill, which will destroy everything.”

Instantly, a giant magic circle appeared beneath me. Purple and blue light spun rapidly, reaching up and piercing the clouds.

“Stop him!”

“He’s going to destroy us all!”

But it was too late.

The light covered everything. The temperature in the air changed, the wind grew heavy, and the world seemed to stop turning.

I looked at them one last time, faces that once trusted me, now full of hatred.

They looked at me as if I were a monster.

I smiled faintly.

“Goodbye...” I whispered softly.

The last light shattered.

Everything vanished.

Darkness.

Cold.

My consciousness faded, carried away with the destruction of the world.

※※※

I don’t know how long I stayed silent in the darkness. My body felt light, like floating in an empty sea.

Then, in the middle of that emptiness… a gentle voice called me.

“Are you tired, Shin?”

I opened my eyes slowly.

In front of me stood a beautiful Goddess, her hair long and soft silver, her eyes shining like stars in the night sky.

Her face was calm, full of kindness.

“Yes...” I answered quietly.

The Goddess smiled warmly. “You have been through a lot. Now, I will grant you one wish.”

I bowed my head, closed my eyes. Tears fell without me realizing.

“I want to live again...” I said slowly.

“But not like in my previous life. I want to start everything from the beginning. Without hatred... without false accusations like before...”

The Goddess nodded softly. “Alright, Shin. Your wish will be granted. May you find true happiness in your new world.”

Soft light wrapped around my body again.

Warm. Soothing.

Like being embraced by the sky.

Darkness...

Silence...

※※※

When I opened my eyes again, the world felt different.

Warm air touched my skin. Soft light penetrated my still blurry eyes.

A soft voice sounded nearby.

“Look! He’s looking at me, dear!”

A young woman looked at me with affection, her face radiant.

Next to her, a man smiled gently.

“Yes, hello Shin Umezawa...” he said. “From now on, you are our child. I am your father, okay?”

The woman looked at me gently. “And this… is your older sister,” she said, pointing to a little girl beside her.

The little girl looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“She’s so cute, Mom!” she said happily.

I looked at them one by one.

For some reason… my heart felt warm.

The feeling that had been lost before… slowly returned.

I… was happy.

Very happy.

“This time... I will protect this family,” I whispered inside.

Tears slowly fell on my still small cheeks.

They were so kind... so sincere to me.

Even though I was still a baby now...

I swear, I will not repeat the same mistakes.

This time, I will live right.

And protect them... until the end.