"Long ago, the Abyss invaded the human realm. Defying the laws that separated the worlds, a gate to the Abyss opened in ours. From it poured countless monsters—ravenous and merciless. They slaughtered humans, devoured their souls, and grew stronger with every one they consumed.
"Amidst the chaos, an emperor rose—crowned by the gods themselves. He protected humanity and sealed away the Lords of the Abyss, forbidding them from ever leaving the depths of their dark realm. Thus, he became the first ruler of mankind—the Emperor of All Humans.
"Before drawing his final breath, he divided his crown into thirteen parts and bestowed them upon his children. With the power of the crown, they became Kings—the protectors of the realm."
Jin read from the storybook.
"A children's story."
The voice in his head chuckled.
"Mother used to read this to me every night before bed. Every time I read it, I feel a strange peace inside. It's make me.. I-I don't know."
"It's borring."
"No." He replied, "Anyways, time to sleep."
"What? Again."
He nodded, turning off the lights.
[Mathematician: Sleepiness × 100]
He fell asleep almost instantly.
"Jin… Jin… Why? Why did you let us die?"
Jin jolted awake, gasping for air. His chest heaved as he struggled to breathe. A wave of dread washed over him.
[Mathematician: Anxieties × 0]
In an instant, the panic vanished, replaced by an eerie calm.
"See? I told you. Why do you have to do it every day?" the voice said with a frown.
"I—I don't know. Maybe because I always used to."
He hesitated, an unfamiliar emotion slowly creeping across his face.
"And that's also why I hate sleeping."
[Mathematician: Sleep × 0]
Sleep abandoned him entirely. Restless, he climbed out of bed, his bare feet touching the cold floor, and walked to the terrace. The night was still, save for the gentle whisper of wind carrying the faint scent of dew.
He stepped outside. The breeze brushed against his skin as he approached the edge and sat down, legs dangling over the side.
He inhaled deeply. A wave of calm flowed through him, loosening the tight knot in his chest. He tilted his head back, eyes drifting skyward.
Above him stretched an endless canvas of stars—tiny diamonds scattered across the night. Their glow cloaked the sky in quiet wonder. For a moment, he felt comforted. Small beneath the vastness—yet not alone.
The stars shimmered in hues of crimson, violet, ice blue, golden yellow, and countless others—each twinkle telling its own story. Some formed familiar constellations, while others seemed like forgotten tales lost to time. It was as if the universe had come alive just for him, lighting up the heavens in a silent, magical symphony.
"It's a beautiful view," the voice whispered.
"Compared to that forbidden land… where the sky was nothing but dust and monsters."
The unknown voice sounded almost grateful to be back in the human realm.
"Only the human realm has stars like these. The other realms have plain, boring white ones."
Jin blinked. If it had been his past self, he might have worn a wide smile. But his face remained still—far, far from any trace of emotion.
"Mother always sang you a song, right?" the voice said again.
"About those who died peacefully or with honor—how they became stars in the sky."
"Oh, yes. She did... a beautiful one. Another thing that made me sleepy. And she sure took advantage of that."
Jin's frozen crimson eyes began to recall the old lullaby.
In the starry, moonlit sky,
A myriad of gems ignites the night,
Stretching high where the gods reside,
Oh, warriors who have bravely fought,
Your legacies in whispers caught.
Grant us the chance to ever remember,
Your valor aflame, a brilliant ember.
In the heavens, your spirits gleam,
As bright as the honor in which you dreamed.
To my children, your tales I weave,
Of courage, of glory, of battles you cleave;
Your cries and your triumphs echo in air,
A symphony of heroes, a legacy rare.
Bless us with stories, a guiding light,
As we strive to follow your noble flight;
See us arise, with hearts full of fire,
Inspired by you, our eternal desire.
"I wonder…" His crimson, cold glow slowly dimmed with sorrow. "Which star have you become, Mother?"
He closed his eyes, then opened them again.
"Are you too dim for me to see," he whispered, raising his hand to the sky, "or have you faded away… like my memory of you?"
His gaze dropped to the red thread wrapped around his right hand. It was frayed and nearly torn, its once-vivid color faded to a dull hue. It looked as though he had worn it for decades.
He sighed.
The voice in his head fell silent.
***
Luke carried Mira on his back, sprinting toward the Nameless Domain—but exhaustion soon caught up to him. A whisper of the unknown screamed in his mind. His body stumbled. Blood dripped from his nose, and his vision blurred.
"What's happening?! Something is... wrong!"
Indeed, something was off. His breathing was out of control, and the bleeding wouldn't stop. His mind was in complete chaos. At his level, he should barely have felt her weight and should have had perfect control over his body.
But at that moment, both his mind and body were undergoing a bizarre, unnatural experience.
Mira slowly began to regain control of herself and coughed violently. Crimson flames ignited across her body as she leaned in and whispered weakly into Luke's ear.
"I-It's corruption... the... the Seed of Corruption."
"Corruption?!"
"Let—let me go, Luke. Or you'll be affected by the roots too..."
Luke paused, then without hesitation, responded, "That's not happening."
Just then, a voice echoed in his mind.
"It's me, Luke."
A wave of relief washed over him. He recognized the voice instantly.
"Lo-Lord Albedo! Miss... Miss Mira is... something is happening, and I... I—" he panted, breathless.
"Yes. I know that," Albedo replied calmly.
"You know that?" Luke was stunned by Albedo's composed response.
"Bring her to Nameless. I'll be waiting for you there."
"Wh-what do you—"
But Albedo's voice faded, leaving only silence and confusion.
***
Luke arrived at the base of the massive stone gate and gently laid Mira on the ground. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a golden key forged from a mysterious metal.
The key was adorned with ten shimmering jewels. Gripping it tightly in his right hand, he raised it before him, preparing for what came next.
"I am Luke Grimdal, disciple of Lord Albedo. Please open the gate!" he called out.
A brilliant light burst from the tip of the key, illuminating the surroundings. The ten embedded jewels began to glow, each radiating with increasing intensity.
A wooden gate slowly began to materialize, creaking into existence. As it opened, a dazzling light poured forth, engulfing both Luke and Mira.
Luke shut his eyes against the blinding brightness. When he opened them again, they had been teleported somewhere entirely different.
'It's always too bright.'
Luke hated the sensation of being transported by the blinding light. He had complained about it to Albedo countless times, but his grievances had always gone ignored.
The place was nothing like the outside world—it felt as if it existed in a completely different dimension.
Strange creatures of unknown origin fluttered gracefully above a breathtaking garden, bursting with vibrant, otherworldly flowers.
Man, why is Lord Albedo's domain always so... eye-catching?
This realm was Albedo's domain, a separate dimension forged from his spiritual energy—an ability granted by the power of the crown. It was said that within their own domains, the Kings were invincible.
The sheer beauty of the place overwhelmed Luke. For a moment, he even forgot about Mira.
"Oh. I need to hurry," he said, snapping back to reality.
He rushed to carry Mira into an old-looking mansion nestled at the foot of a mountain.