After hours of intense training, Roman's body had finally reached its limit.
Every muscle in his body felt heavy. The exhaustion from pushing his magic, swordsmanship, and Fallen God power had drained him completely.
As soon as he entered his room, Roman didn't even bother changing his clothes.
He simply walked toward his bed and dropped onto it.
The moment his head touched the pillow, sleep claimed him instantly.
Darkness.
A strange, silent darkness.
Roman felt as if he were sinking slowly into an endless ocean.
For a brief moment, he could not feel his body. It was as if he were floating somewhere far away from reality.
Then suddenly
The darkness faded.
Roman found himself standing on soft green grass.
Before him stretched a vast, endless ocean. The water glimmered beneath a sky painted with gentle shades of blue and silver.
The air was calm.
The sound of waves softly crashing against the shore echoed across the peaceful land.
And there
Near the edge of the ocean
A woman was dancing.
Roman froze.
The woman moved gracefully, her steps light as if the wind itself carried her. Her long dress flowed with every movement, and her dance seemed almost otherworldly.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
Roman's eyes widened as he slowly looked down at himself.
His breath stopped.
He was no longer Roman Crowell.
He was in his original body.
Ronald Reagan.
Shock ran through him.
He blinked once.
Then twice.
Suddenly something warm slid down his cheek.
Roman slowly raised his hand and wiped his face.
Tears.
He stared at the moisture on his fingers in confusion.
He didn't understand why.
But his heart felt warm.
Familiar.
Comforted.
His gaze slowly returned to the woman dancing near the ocean.
Her face was hidden behind a thin veil that moved with the wind.
Yet something inside him already knew.
His heart began to beat faster.
Slowly, Ronald began walking toward her.
Step by step.
The closer he got, the slower her dance became.
Then suddenly
She stopped.
An eerie silence filled the entire area.
The wind suddenly grew stronger.
A wild gust of air swept across the shore.
And the veil covering her face was blown away.
Ronald's eyes widened.
Standing before him was the woman he once loved more than his own life.
Ruth Admor.
His beloved.
The love of his previous life.
The moment he saw her face, Ronald ran forward.
All his composure vanished.
He embraced her tightly, crying like a child who had finally found something he had lost long ago.
Ruth gently wrapped her arms around him.
Her voice was soft.
"How are you… my love?"
Ronald buried his face against her shoulder.
"I'm lonely without you, Ruth."
For a moment, the world felt peaceful again.
Then Ruth gently lifted his face and kissed him.
But suddenly
Something felt wrong.
Her grip around him began tightening.
Stronger.
Tighter.
Painfully tight.
Ronald's eyes widened in confusion.
Ruth's voice changed.
"So… you are the chosen Warherald of another world."
Her tone was cold.
Mocking.
"No wonder I couldn't find you in your old world."
Ronald struggled to breathe.
Pain shot through his body.
"That smart goddess Aria… she chose a soul from another world and brought him here."
Her grip tightened further.
Ronald shouted in pain.
"Who are you?!"
"You are not Ruth!"
The woman laughed.
A cruel laugh.
"No… I am not."
"I simply searched through your memories after entering your dream world."
"I found her memories… and I must say."
Her smile twisted into something monstrous.
"You have excellent taste, Ronald Reagan."
"She was beautiful."
"Because you killed her."
Ronald's eyes filled with rage.
"WHO ARE YOU?!"
The woman slowly stepped back.
Her body began to change.
Dark energy erupted from her form.
Her appearance twisted and warped as her true form revealed itself.
Black wings made of corrupted energy spread behind her back.
Her eyes glowed with a terrifying crimson light.
Her body radiated an ancient and terrifying presence.
One of the Fallen Demonic Angels.
She smiled coldly.
"Are you truly this foolish?"
"We are the reason you are here."
"I am the only Fallen Angel who has escaped the prison created by those so-called gods and goddesses."
She stepped closer.
Her eyes filled with murderous amusement.
"My time is up."
"But we will meet again soon, mighty Warherald."
Her smile widened.
"In the meantime…"
"Don't die."
"I want to slice you apart slowly."
Her body dissolved into darkness.
Roman suddenly woke up.
His entire body jerked violently as he sat upright in his bed.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
Sweat covered his entire body.
His heart was pounding wildly.
"That… wasn't a dream."
Roman slowly turned his head.
Something caught his attention.
Words.
Written on the mirror across the room.
Roman stood up and slowly walked toward it.
But the letters were strange.
The message was written upside down.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand it.
Roman frowned.
"Shadow System."
"What does this mean?"
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then the Shadow System responded.
But the message was cryptic.
"When the time is right… you will understand, Warherald."
And then it disappeared.
Roman returned to his bed and sat down.
Anger burned inside him.
Not because of the threat.
But because the Fallen Angel had taken Ruth's appearance.
That alone filled his heart with fury.
Then
Knock.
A sound echoed from his door.
Roman frowned.
"Who is it?"
No answer came.
Knock.
Again.
Roman's patience began to fade.
"Who is it?"
Still no response.
Another knock.
Roman's anger erupted.
"WHO IS IT?!"
"CAN'T YOU EVEN ANSWER?!"
Suddenly
The door exploded open.
Selena stood there with her fist extended.
"It was me."
She stepped inside calmly.
"And why are you shouting like a madman?"
She suddenly stopped.
Roman's entire body was drenched in sweat.
His eyes burned with rage.
Her expression softened slightly.
"Father is calling you."
"He wants you to join the celebration."
Roman looked away.
"I don't want to come."
Selena crossed her arms.
"It's an order from father."
"And he said I can drag you there if necessary."
She walked closer and tried grabbing Roman's ear.
Roman pushed her hand away.
"I said leave me alone!"
"Can't you understand simple language?"
He grabbed his cloak.
Then suddenly jumped through the window.
Before Selena could react, Roman turned toward her.
"I really mean it."
"Please leave me alone."
"And don't follow me."
Golden mana gathered beneath his feet.
Roman activated flying magic.
His body shot into the night sky.
He flew toward the Solara River.
After some time, Roman finally landed beside the calm flowing river.
The cold night air brushed against his face.
Roman slowly sat on the ground.
Across the river, people were celebrating.
Music echoed through the night.
Children ran and laughed happily.
Men and women danced joyfully.
For them, the future seemed bright.
Peaceful.
But Roman knew the truth.
This peace wouldn't last.
Something massive was coming.
Something terrifying.
Roman slowly looked up at the sky.
The stars shimmered quietly above.
And for a moment
He simply sat there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Alone.