---
**[Scene - The Old Fortress - Throne Room, Timeline Reset]**
Shujin sat once more upon the throne—calm.
No destruction. No obliteration. Only silence.
His fingers brushed the air, and the giant magical clock appeared behind him.
The Death Clock, Chronael.
Its twelve terrifying hands glowed like starless moons.
He stared at the eleventh hand, the hand of Time Travel still glowing faintly.
> "So, even the gods can be restored."
The four slain gods were revived, not out of mercy, but because the eleventh hand pulled time backwards.
But they remembered.
Elmyria did too.
> "Are they afraid of me now?"
Shujin smiled.
> "Good."
---
**[Scene - The Gods' Realm - The Viewing Hall]**
Elmyria stood silently, her divine pool reflecting Shujin on his throne once more.
No longer arrogant, but cautious, the four gods stood behind her.
> "He restored our deaths…" the Wind Goddess groaned.
> "Then he won't stop if we don't stop him first."
Elmyria did not speak. She simply stared.
> "Shujin..."
> "What are you truly planning?"
---
**[Scene - The Old Fortress – Dusk Approaches]**
Shujin stood and raised his palm, slowly walking around the throne. The Death Clock hovered behind him, now observing another hand with a faint glow. The abilities of the Death Clock:
**Hand I - Time Slow.**
**Hand II - Time Stop.**
**Hand III - Personal World Creation (Within that world, the user can manipulate time as they please).**
**Hand IV – Rewriting the Past (On an individual).**
**Hand V - Memory Erasure.**
**Hand VI - Future Illusion (A powerful, created mirage shown to someone of their darkest or brightest future).**
**Hand VII - Time Lock (Holds the target for an hour, or years).**
**Hand VIII - Stealing Memories.**
**Hand IX - Peeking Memories.**
**Hand X - Sharing Memories.**
**Hand XI - Time travel to the past of the future.**
***Hand XII - The Death (End of Everything)** (The last and most powerful. If the user uses this hand, it has the power to destroy any living being, existence, and even universes. However, in return, it requires the user's life.)
> "Each hand... is like a divine punishment."
---
**[Scene - The City Streets – Rei's Mission]**
Rei, wearing her sleek black mask, watched all night, her dagger-sharp eyes narrowing.
She returned from the devil's den. In her hand, she held a note.
> "The Duke of Felthrain is a traitor... This lord pays with Demi-human slaves and funds the Devil Guild's slave shipments."
She clenched her teeth tightly.
> "Even lords, even nobles are corrupt…"
She disappeared into the shadows, turning back towards the fortress, unaware of what awaited her.
---
**[Scene - The Old Fortress – The Eastern Demon Lord's Arrival]**
A demonic aura shattered the silence.
A magnificent scene descended from above. Black wings. A horned crown. Crimson armor.
The Eastern Demon Lord - a demon veiled in anger.
> "You…"
He landed before the fortress ruins, staring at the boy on the throne.
> "You are the source of that magical shockwave, that throne... your existence…"
He roared, and the walls shook.
"Boy... you don't yet understand how this world works, you don't know how weak humans are. Fate is on our demons' side, boy."
> "Join us. With your power, you can rule beside the Demon King. And then there's that hero too."
Perhaps the Eastern Demon Lord didn't even see Shujin as human. Shujin didn't look back.
> "No."
Suddenly, Shujin released an immensely powerful Aura. It seemed to spread not just through that place, but throughout the entire world of Velgrith.
The Demon Lord's eyes widened. The Shujin the Eastern Demon Lord saw now appeared as a monster radiating Aura.
> "You're... worse than the Dark Magic God. You are…"
Shujin raised his hand.
A spear of hatred—colorless, soundless, inevitable.
> "You talk too much, Eastern Demon Lord."
The next moment—
> *Boom.*
A mass of darkness emerged.
The Eastern Demon Lord's form began to crumble as magical spears pierced his body.
He didn't even touch Shujin.
He disappeared, not even bones remaining.
---
**[Scene - Demons' Empire - The Great Demon Lord's Palace]**
The Great Demon Lord's eyes widened, sensing the disturbance.
> "...He's dead."
The eastern throne sat empty.
> "That boy… destroyed the Eastern Demon Lord?"
> "No, that's not a boy, that's Death itself. And that Aura..."
---
**[Scene - Gods' Realm]**
Along with Elmyria, the four gods also felt that immense Aura.
However, the four gods might not understand the magnitude of that Aura, but Elmyria seemed to understand. Her eyes were still trembling.
---
**[Scene - Silverwood Kingdom, Queen's Royal Castle Hall and Other Nations]**
Queen Bellatrix Silverwood, with silver hair and blue eyes, felt the Aura even while holding a meeting with her ministers.
> "This is... how can it be so immense...!"
Queen Bellatrix was startled, while the remaining ministers couldn't comprehend how immense that Aura was.
The other kingdoms, Mistwood and Flarewood Kingdom, were the same. And the Northern, Western, and Southern Demon Lords also felt it.
---
**[Scene - Unknown Place - Pitch Black Darkness]**
A person in a black robe with one side of their mask cracked. It seemed this person might be the mastermind behind the scenes. This person also seemed to understand the Aura.
> "Hmm... It seems it's too early to look. Anyway, this boy isn't my rival yet."
---
**[Scene - The Dormitory - Night]**
Shujin returned through the black doorway, entering his room with an air of dignity. His form glowed, and his hair turned silver.
[When Kuro's hair turns black, he is Shujin, and when it turns silver, he is Kuro.]
Kuro stood before the bed.
Rei was waiting, her mask removed, her eyes shining.
> "Welcome back, Master Kuro-sama."
Kuro raised an eyebrow.
> "I don't think you should be in the boys' dormitory."
She giggled.
> "Don't worry, Master, I used my magic."
She shimmered beside him—indicating her shadow-step darkness travel magic.
Kuro nodded.
> "Skillful."
She handed him the scroll. He read it.
> "Oh, that lord...?"
He set it aside.
> "Rei... well done."
He raised his hand and gently stroked her head.
> *Petting.*
Rei closed her eyes, cheeks pink.
> "Hey... I think I could get addicted to this..."
Kuro yawned.
> "I'm tired. Wake me if there's an emergency, Rei."
He fell onto the bed and lay down. Perhaps instantly, Kuro fell asleep.
---
**[Cutscene - Rei's Glimpse - Viewing the Past]**
While he slept, Rei touched the crystal on her belt.
Her own unique power - Memory Sight.
A magic that allows her to see someone's past through their dreams.
She placed her hand on his forehead and whispered softly.
> "I want to know more about Kuro-sama... I still want to understand... Forgive me, Kuro-sama."
> "Show me... Kuro-sama's truth."
The room dimmed.
Rei's mind fell into a scene.
What she saw:
A boy, heartbroken by betrayal.
His parents killed right before his eyes.
A yakuza's cruel hand taking him away.
Years left alone in a room.
Adopting a kitten and a puppy out of loneliness.
Helping Niyori.
Saving Aiko...
Died in blood.
Waking up in childhood... a world of demons and gods.
Rei sobbed softly, tears falling.
> "So this is who Kuro-sama really is... carrying the memories of a past life too..."
> "It must hurt so much, Kuro-sama…"
She clutched the blanket tightly.
> "I won't betray my Master. Not like the others."
> "I swear it, Master."
---
✦ **To be continued...**