Four Hours Earlier
Nyxara stood within the void, her mere existence bending space itself.
Stars dimmed and twisted around her, as if even the cosmos feared her presence.
A voice broke the silence.
"Nyxara… why didn't you kill Zytherion before Atheris used that final skill?"
She turned slowly, her expression cold and unreadable.
"You dare call me by my name?" Nyxara replied calmly.
"Where is your respect?"
The speaker stiffened immediately.
"I–I apologize. But I heard from one of your servants that you're heading to Earth. Why?"
Nyxara's lips curved slightly—not into a smile, but into something far more dangerous.
"Atheris is alive," she said quietly.
"Weak… but alive."
The surrounding space grew heavier.
"He broke the rule," she continued.
"So I'm going to execute him."
The voice hesitated.
"And… what of Zytherion?"
Nyxara's gaze sharpened.
"Zytherion was once my personal creation," she said.
"A failed one."
She turned away, her dark figure slowly fading into starlight.
"He never broke the rule. Not even once," she added.
"I wonder now… who he is serving."
There was a brief pause.
Then the voice spoke again, nervous.
"Be careful, Nyxara. A shaman foresaw something."
She stopped walking.
"He said someone stronger than you will be born—
someone capable of wielding the Zero Revision effortlessly."
For a moment, silence ruled the void.
Then Nyxara laughed softly.
"Then," she said,
"let us wait until that being is born."
Her presence vanished completely.
Back on Earth
Atheris, Thrynn, and Viktor sat quietly in the living room. The silence felt heavy—unnatural.
Atheris finally spoke.
"I'm going out for a walk," he said calmly.
Thrynn looked at him.
"Let me come with you."
Atheris shook his head lightly.
"No, don't worry," he replied.
"I want to try to… regain my memories."
At the Park.....
As Atheris walked alone, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
[SYSTEM LOG: GREETINGS, MASTER. I HAVE GOOD NEWS.]
Atheris paused slightly.
"What is it?" he asked.
[SYSTEM LOG: DUE TO THE INTENSE AURA BEING RELEASED BY THE FIRST ARCHITECT, I HAVE QUIETLY ABSORBED A PORTION OF IT.
THIS HAS ALLOWED YOU TO BEGIN REGAINING YOUR POWERS—BIT BY BIT.
HOWEVER… THERE IS A PROBLEM.]
Atheris frowned.
"What problem?"
[SYSTEM LOG: THE HOST BODY IS TOO WEAK.
I MUST FIRST INCREASE ITS DURABILITY SO IT CAN CONTAIN YOUR IMMENSE POWER WITHOUT COLLAPSING.]
Atheris exhaled slowly.
"You never cease to surprise me," he said.
"Do what you think is
right."
Just then, a familiar woman approached him.
She was the same woman who had been staring at him in the hospital.
"Hi," she said casually.
"Are you Michael?"
Atheris nodded.
"Yeah. And… who are you?"
She tilted her head, studying him closely.
"I'm surprised you don't recognize me," she said thoughtfully.
"Hm… perhaps it's the accident."
She stepped closer.
"But human hair can't turn blue," she added softly.
"Hmmm… interesting."
Then she smiled.
"My name is Nyxara."
Atheris froze.
Instantly—
[SYSTEM LOG: BATTLE MODE INITIATED.
DEFENSE MODE ACTIVATED.
ACTIVATING ALL AVAILABLE POWERS AUTOMATICALLY.]
At that moment,
Thrynn's voice called out from behind.
"Babe?"
"Who are you talking to?"
Atheris turned toward Thrynn.
When he looked back—
The woman was gone.
No trace.
No presence.
Only silence.
Atheris clenched his fists.
He knew it now.
He was in grave danger.
To be continued…