Pov Anna
Darkness.
That was the first thing I saw when consciousness returned. A vast, endless blackness swallowing everything around me. No sky, no land, no horizon — only suffocating emptiness stretching to infinity. I blinked, once, twice, but nothing changed. It was as if I'd gone blind.
My breath trembled as I lowered my eyes.
I wasn't standing on solid ground.
Beneath my feet lay water — black, glassy, perfectly still. Yet every movement sent soft ripples echoing outward, and somewhere in that empty void came the delicate sound of droplets falling
The sound echoed, bouncing endlessly around me. A chill crawled up my spine, goosebumps rising on my arms. I turned slowly, trying to understand where I was — but there was only silence, darkness, and water reflecting nothing.
"Hello?" My voice cracked into the void. "Is someone there?"
No reply. Just echo.
My feet moved on their own, steps splashing gently. I walked for what felt like hours — directionless, breath sharp with fear. And then — in the darkness ahead — a shape appeared. A silhouette. A person standing still, turned away from me.
My heart leapt. I ran — the sound of water splashing under my feet growing frantic. Relief crashed through me like a wave as I reached him. I placed a shaking hand on his shoulder.
"Shoto?"
He turned.
And it was him.
Shoto.
Alive. Whole. Standing right there in front of me. My vision blurred instantly as tears filled my eyes and I threw my arms around him without thinking. His arms wrapped around me gently, warm and familiar, pulling me close.
"Shoto—" I choked, my voice breaking apart. "I am so sorry… I'm so, so sorry… please forgive me, if I would've known—"
The words dissolved into sobs as my body shook. Shoto's hand moved up slowly, resting on the back of my head, holding me as if trying to protect me from the world.
"It's okay," he murmured, voice soft. "Anna… it's okay."
I looked up — and froze.
His face — half of it — was gone. Burnt. Charred flesh, exposed bone, the smell of smoke and blood. His eye socket hollow, skin melted, raw and red and horrifying. I stumbled back in shock, breath catching in my throat as my feet splashed against the water.
Shoto reached toward me, confused.
"Anna? Why are you moving back? What's wrong?"
His voice twisted as his expression changed — anger, pain, betrayal.
"This happened because of you."
My lungs compressed. The darkness around us cracked open, and suddenly — the world filled with screams. The screams of the kingdom. The fire. The cries of burning citizens. The sound of buildings collapsing. The horror I had tried to forget.
The water beneath my feet began to churn violently — hands breaking through the surface. Pale, rotting arms with claw-like fingers reaching for me from below, grabbing at my ankles, pulling, dragging.
"No—!" I backed away wildly, splashing, shaking, trying to escape them.
My back hit something solid.
I turned.
A little girl stood there — the same child who had been devoured by that monster. Her dress tattered, her hair soaked in blood, her face twisted — one eye missing, the other filled with rage.
"Why?" she sobbed. "Why did you do this? What did I do to you? I deserved to live. Take my revenge!!!"
Her scream shattered through the darkness.
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. More voices rose — loud, echoing, overlapping, suffocating.
A voice I wished I would never hear again.
"Maybe that's why Alex cheated on you," it hissed venomously.
"Because you're useless. Always making things worse. Always choosing wrong."
My blood ran cold — I recognized it instantly.
My sister.
The girl he cheated with.
Another voice joined, then another, shouting accusations from every direction — screaming, blaming, laughing. The water surged around me, the hands dragged harder, pulling me down to drown.
"Stop— please stop—" I pressed my hands over my ears, falling to my knees. "Wake up, wake up, wake UP—!"
But I couldn't wake up.
I couldn't breathe.
The darkness swallowed me whole.
Far away from the nightmare, Shou Feng rested lazily along a marble railing — one leg casually dangling over the edge. His eyes were closed, head tilted slightly, humming quietly to himself. His long black hair flowed like ink in the breeze, the golden dragon embroidery on his dark robes glimmering faintly.
Suddenly — his eyes snapped open.
A sharp breath escaped him, irritation flickering in his golden gaze. He sat upright slowly, listening to something only he could hear. A sigh slipped from his lips.
"Tch. This girl…"
His hand rose, fingers making a small circular motion. His eyes closed again — and the world shifted.
The nightmare world cracked like shattered glass.
I looked up through tears — the shadow people surrounding me froze as if time had halted. Their screaming stopped mid-sound. The accusing voices evaporated. The angry hands released my legs and sank beneath the water without a trace.
And standing there, watching me — was Shou Feng.
Tall. Cold. Radiant with power. The aura around him glowed gold like fire reflecting on black water. His expression unreadable — I couldn't tell if he was amused, disgusted, or simply bored.
He walked toward me slowly, each step silent.
He knelt to my level, his presence overwhelming. His hand reached out, fingers gripping my chin lightly, lifting my face toward him. His skin was cold, but his touch sent heat through me like lightning.
He wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb.
His voice low and commanding:
"Wake."
I jolted awake with a violent gasp, sitting up so fast my vision blurred. Air tore painfully through my lungs. Tears poured down my cheeks, my hands trembling uncontrollably. My body shook as I tried to breathe, chest aching.
"You're awake."
The voice was smooth — deep and calming.
I looked up.
A man stood at the balcony railing, his back turned toward me. He wore flowing white robes, simple yet elegant. His long hair caught the sunlight, and the entire place around us glowed gold.
Clouds drifted below like a sea of white — an endless sky city floating above the world.
"K… Kiyoshi…" I whispered.
He didn't turn, but nodded slightly.
"I'm glad you're okay," he said gently.
"I… I… killed…" I choked, voice breaking, trembling violently.
"No," he cut me off, voice firm but soft. "You didn't."
My tears fell faster.
Kiyoshi finally turned, looking down at me with calm eyes full of empathy.
"Anna, you completed your first mission. Would you like to go home?"
Home.
The word echoed inside my head.
The kingdom.
The burning city.
Shoto.
The little girl.
The screams.
Destruction.
Alex.
William.
Lily.
My throat tightened, fists clenching.
"No."
Kiyoshi's eyes widened, surprised. Then, slowly — he smiled.
"As you wish."
I looked up at him, rage replacing fear.
"I want revenge on Shou Feng!" I shouted.
Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow. His lips curled into a grin — and then he burst into laughter.
"Why are you laughing!?" I snapped, furious.
He wiped a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye.
"Just the fact that your dream is very common… yet absolutely impossible."
I stared at him, stunned.
"What is wrong with you!? He killed thousands of people!"
"He took revenge," Kiyoshi replied calmly. "And his revenge isn't finished yet."
"I want your help to kill him."
Kiyoshi stepped back immediately, hands raised.
"No, no — I don't have a death wish."
I glared at him, trembling — angry, hurt, exhausted.
"Anna," he said softly. "You're going through a lot. Take your time. Compose yourself."
Then he left.
Hours passed.
I cried until there were no tears left. Until my throat burned and my chest ached. When silence became unbearable, I stood and began walking.
The place around me was enormous — like a palace mixed with a celestial academy. Students in white robes moved through glowing halls, learning powers and spells, training beneath floating symbols and sky-mirrors. The wind was soft, carrying the scent of clean air and sunlit stone. Clouds drifted through open arches like rivers flowing by.
I turned a corner —
And crashed into someone.
"I'm so sorry — I didn't see you—"
The words died in my throat.
The man in front of me froze. His golden eyes widened, staring into my face like he had just seen a ghost. He was beautiful — impossibly so. Long black hair fell over ornate robes of black and gold, embroidered with the shape of a dragon. A golden halo of shimmering light hung behind him like a crown, sparkling and alive. He was tall, elegant, terrifyingly divine — clearly not human.
A god.
"Um… hello?" I waved awkwardly.
He didn't blink. Didn't move. His golden eyes pierced through me like blades, unreadable and intense.
Feeling uncomfortable, I stepped around him and walked away. When I glanced back, he still hadn't moved — staring as if I had shaken the world.
I continued until I stepped onto a vast open terrace — the balcony in the sky. White marble stretched beneath my feet, laced with swirling gold patterns. Giant pillars framed a breathtaking view of endless ocean and floating cities among the clouds. The sunlight made everything glow, as if the heavens themselves existed here.
I gasped softly, breathing deeply. It felt fresh, airy, freeing.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is."
My blood froze.
That voice.
My eyes widened as I turned sharply.
A man stood there — Japanese features, short dark hair, wearing a purple robe with no accessories. Simple, clean, elegant. He smirked.
"Did little Alex's wife forget her little bully?"
My heart stopped.
"W… William?"
But he looked different. Unrecognizable yet unmistakable. A smile curved his lips — cold, cruel.
I stepped back instinctively.
"If you move any further," he warned, stepping closer, "you might actually fall from here."
I froze where I stood.
"Stop there," I stuttered.
William grabbed my wrist violently, yanking me close. His breath brushed my ear.
"You think you're safe here?" he whispered. "I'll make sure we finish our night."
His hand fisted in my hair, the other wrapping around my throat. I gasped, feet leaving the floor as he lifted me easily.
"I have fire power," he hissed. "What do you have, Anna?"
My vision blurred. Air fading. Pain stabbing my skull.
And then—
A flash of gold slashed through the air.
William screamed, dropping me instantly as his hand split open with a deep burn. I fell — but before the marble could shatter my bones, strong arms caught me.
Warm. Steady.
I looked up — breath frozen.
My eyes widened.
It was him.
End of Chapter