"Please… someone… anyone… intervene… I'm begging you…"
Akito's thoughts screamed into the void,
like a drowning man gasping for air.
"Rei… I never got to see you again…
Never got to go apartment hunting with you…
My life was just starting to come together, and now… it's all gone to hell.
Grandma… I'm sorry…
I never made it home to you… though I hoped I'd arrive with someone by my side…
The Guardians… They're not dead.
As long as I'm alive…
As long as the System lives within me…
There's still a chance…"
— "Akito."
Kronoran's voice tore through the silence like a cold blade.
"I'm sorry you never got to see the ones you loved again…
But the Guardians won't help you now.
I've locked your System."
A pause.
"Oh, and yes… I can read your thoughts.
I can read the thoughts of the entire galaxy…
And of all that exists."
He raised his chin slightly.
There was no pride in his voice—
Only absolute certainty.
— "I've been in this form for one hour and ten minutes.
I can't be stopped."
He lifted both hands.
The left absorbed the Earth's energy—
As if peeling the life from it.
The right released that energy—
Forming the prototype of a new planet in the air.
A world without evil, hatred, or lies.
Akito exhaled, and a faint, weary smile crossed his lips.
"Maybe this really is better…
Maybe I'll die… and be reborn in that world…
Maybe there… I can just be happy."
But suddenly—
The space around them warped.
As if the entire universe had shuddered.
The Creator had arrived.
He had entered his absolute form—
The form in which he destroys all.
— "What…? How did you escape?"
For the first time in a long while, Kronoran wasn't smiling.
"You realize… you'll destroy everything you created?"
There was no answer.
The Creator no longer resembled a man—
But a crystal-white, eyeless being
Radiating blinding light.
From his back and body sprouted nearly ninety wings—
Each one like a blade of pure light.
Behind him, suspended in the void, a massive white eye opened—
Forty times larger than the sun.
In less than a second, the Creator appeared beside Kronoran.
He grabbed him—
And in an instant, devoured him.
The very monster who had defeated them all—
Gone.
And then, everything began to disappear.
From the birth of the universe…
Every galaxy, every planet, every cosmos—
All began to dissolve,
Leaving behind an infinite emptiness where nothing existed.
The void compressed into a single point—
The Creator himself.
Akito blinked—
And everything was gone.
He found himself in a white room.
Here, he could move.
Nothing hurt.
He was whole.
Akito looked around.
Silence.
Not even his footsteps echoed.
The white space felt endless—
And in its stillness, something pressed on him.
A weight not of sound… but of solitude.
Then—
One by one, the Guardians appeared.
Arden, Targus, Elian, Kenshi, Aurelia, Kasumi, and Draxir.
They stood before Akito, smiling…
But sorrow flickered in their eyes.
The silence was broken by Draxir.
— "Kid… we didn't know each other long…
But I saw your potential.
You're a good leader.
And a damn good person.
For the first time in my seventy-thousand years…
I felt safe beside someone."
His voice trembled as he stepped back.
Next came Kasumi, her voice quivering, eyes glistening.
— "Young master…
We barely spoke…
But I'm glad I met you.
You're a kind soul.
Forgive me… that I didn't get the chance to give you… a child."
She smiled softly and stepped back.
Aurelia followed almost immediately.
Her voice was quiet, but carried a deep warmth.
— "I was never one for words…
But I'm grateful I could help you.
I suppose… this is our final meeting."
She hugged him briefly, just a few seconds—
A fleeting warmth.
— "Thank you, Master."
Kenshi stepped up with a smirk.
— "I know you'll struggle without me—
I mean, I am the best, right?"
He winked.
— "But hey, you're not so bad either.
You even taught me a few things.
Not sure if we'll meet again…
But man, it was one hell of a ride."
He turned away.
— "And don't screw it up with that hottie."
Elian stepped forward with a graceful bow.
— "Young Master…
I'm glad I could help—even with paperwork.
Thank you…
For teaching me your language,
And for letting me believe in math again."
Tears rolled down Akito's cheeks.
He could no longer hold them back.
Then came Targus, simply, from the heart:
— "Jarl… I'll always be with you.
The time we spent together…
It was the best of my life.
The modeling agency, the money—
None of it compares to what we've been through."
He smiled.
— "I'm glad I got to fight beside you…
And yeah—
I believe we'll tear into another bag of chips someday."
And finally—
Arden.
He smiled, but his eyes shimmered.
— "So… it's my turn now.
Remember how it all began?
How I saved you from the Rat King?"
Akito chuckled.
— "Thank you for plugging me into the console.
For that story with the neighbor—when I scared her and you took the blame.
For the noodles.
For believing in me.
And for being my friend."
He paused.
— "It was the best time of my life.
I'll never forget it."
From behind, Targus shouted:
— "And don't you dare give up, Jarl!"
Akito exhaled—
His voice shaking:
— "Guys…
Thank you…
For being with me.
You're the best thing that ever happened to me.
I… I'll never forget you."
The Guardians stepped back…
And slowly began to dissolve.
Akito covered his eyes—
But the tears still flowed.
— "Goodbye!.."
He cried out.
When he lowered his hand,
They were gone.
He turned his head—
And froze.
In the distance stood…
Mom. Dad. Haruki. Kaito.
— "I have to go…
They're waiting…
I'll finally be happy…"
He whispered, and took a step forward.
Slowly—
Almost afraid to blink.
Afraid to lose them.
Every step was heavy…
But his heart beat faster,
Filled with anticipation.
He reached out his hand—
And then—
A hand grabbed his shoulder.
Tightly.
[Noxveil]
Hey there, reader!
If you've made it this far, thank you so much. I'm writing this story in Russian and translating it into English — so I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Even one small comment gives me huge motivation 💬💙
Let me know who your favorite character is so far!