Inside the Virtual Gate — After Thirty Minutes
A young man stood calmly atop an uneven rocky surface.
Short white hair. Pale skin. Black eyes—deep like an abyss.
"The contraction will begin now," he said quietly.
"Hiss—"
As his words fell, a faint purple mist began to spread, slowly tightening across the area.
"Interesting…"
His dark eyes flickered with mild curiosity as he observed it.
"Either way… I don't plan on getting eliminated."
"Zzz—"
A sharp, chirping sound escaped his body as black lightning began to form around him, crackling softly.
"Let's change the environment."
He glanced once at the rocky terrain—
—and vanished.
A Few Minutes Later
"…The consumption is annoying."
Klein exhaled lightly as the lightning around him faded.
He looked around.
Trees. Dense. Endless.
"Let's see…"
His gaze sharpened.
"Spider Web."
Thin strands of mana began to extend from his body—slow, precise.
But that wasn't all.
The threads intertwined with lightning.
In an instant—
Everything changed.
Life.
Movement.
Presence.
He could feel it all.
"Come out."
His head tilted slightly toward a tree.
"Rustle—"
"Thud."
A figure dropped down.
A boy. Same age. Short gray hair. Green eyes—lazy, yet sharp.
There was something strange about him.
A scent.
Like potions.
"You're interesting," the boy said, studying Klein's eyes.
"…Hm." A quiet response.
"My name is Abraham Zenith," he said, extending his hand.
"Klein… just Klein."
A brief handshake.
"Want to team up?" Abraham asked casually. "There's no rule against it."
"I don't mind."
Klein's tone remained calm. Though a part of him was curious about fighting this person, it could wait.
"Haha… good choice."
Abraham patted his shoulder lightly.
"Instead of explaining our abilities, let's just see them in action."
The air shifted.
Wind began to gather beneath him, lifting his body slightly.
"I assume you sensed them too."
A grin.
"Let's go earn some points."
With a rising roar, the wind wrapped around him—forming a small cyclone as he shot forward.
"…Interesting."
Klein murmured.
"Zzt—"
Black lightning sparked again and he disappeared.
...
Adel Everheight — POV
"Damn it… they're getting closer."
Adel spoke quickly, his expression tense. The ground beneath him relayed movement like a living sensor.
"Adel, should we retreat?" one of his teammates asked nervously.
"We can't."
His violet eyes gleamed behind his glasses.
"One of them was on the ground… then suddenly airborne. Wind user, most likely."
A pause.
"The other one… unknown."
"…At least stronger than me."
Silence fell for a split second.
"Prepare yourselves!"
His voice rose sharply.
No one hesitated.
"Gina and Zayn—stay behind me. Raid and Light, support Leon."
Weapons were drawn instantly.
Gina and Raid—archers.
Light—a support mage, already at E-rank despite his weak aura.
"Don't worry," Zayn said, pulling out a short blade. "We've got this."
"What level are they?" Leon asked, gripping his weapon.
"…Higher than mine."
That was enough.
Then—
A figure appeared.
Like a flicker.
Black lightning crawling across his body.
Klein.
Silent.
Watching.
"…Lightning," Abraham's voice followed as he descended from the air. "Not bad."
Adel's eyes narrowed.
"…The mad alchemist from the Zenith family?"
"Mad?" Abraham frowned slightly. "That's not a very nice reputation."
Then he smiled.
"Anyway… it doesn't matter."
He raised his hand.
"Go play somewhere else."
The wind screamed.
"Chaotic Cyclone."
The air twisted violently, forming a raging vortex around him. Lightning crackled faintly within it.
"Go on… try to survive it."
But amidst the chaos—
Klein stood still.
The wind didn't touch him.
Not even his hair moved.
No one noticed.
The cyclone surged forward.
"Metal—!"
Adel slammed his hand down.
A massive wall of metal rose, shielding the group.
"Leon! Take the other one!"
"I'll handle him!"
Flames ignited.
...
Leon — POV
Leon wasn't stupid.
He saw it.
Abraham was dangerous.
But the other one
"Klein"
Something felt wrong.
Still—
"I'm going in. Support me."
His body swelled slightly as flames wrapped around his blade.
He charged.
Fast.
Direct.
Then—
His hands trembled.
"…What is this?"
A feeling crawled up his spine.
Cold.
Heavy.
Danger.
Klein didn't move.
Didn't react.
Just looked at him.
That alone—
Was terrifying.
"Damn it!"
Leon roared, forcing himself forward.
The flames surged higher.
"I won't hesitate!"
He swung—
Klein raised his hand.
"Grip."
Bare hand.
Steel stopped.
The impact pushed Klein back slightly—
But he held it.
The flames—
Disappeared.
Like they were afraid.
"…You're good."
A faint trace of interest.
Klein raised his other hand.
Two fingers.
Aimed.
"…What is that?"
Leon's voice cracked.
"Zzt—"
Black sparks gathered.
"Bang."
A shot.
Dark.
Fast.
Impact—
Leon was sent flying.
"…I guess that's one."
Klein lowered his hand.
Calm.
Cold.
...
Renee — POV
Purple and rose-colored threads spread outward, wrapping around three figures from every direction.
They couldn't move.
Couldn't resist.
Completely bound.
Two meters away, Renee stood quietly—her crimson eyes glowing faintly as she gazed at her work.
Then—
She looked up.
Her gaze pierced through everything.
The space above.
The invisible walls.
Even fate itself.
For a few silent seconds, she simply watched.
Five violet threads descended from the sky, each falling toward a different place.
But that wasn't all.
There was another thread.
Black.
Fractured.
Decaying.
It pulsed with something far heavier than power—
Despair.
Sorrow.
And yet…
Love.
Hope.
"…Don't worry."
Renee's voice was soft, touched with sadness as she reached her hand toward that distant, unreachable thread.
"I won't forget our promise."
She drew her hand back to her chest.
Her eyes narrowed slightly—
Pain.
But she didn't stop.
She couldn't.
Because she was Renee.
And she had a duty—
To the one she loved.
She would save him.
No matter what it took.
"P-please… can you let us go?"
A trembling voice broke her thoughts.
"…Annoying."
Her voice dropped.
Cold.
She moved a single finger.
That was all.
No sound.
No struggle.
Their bodies dissolved into light—like scattered data
And disappeared.
Silence returned.
"…Let's see."
Her eyes lifted again.
"The gears have begun to turn."
"The threads of the ruler."
"The five fates."
"And my Raven…"
A faint smile curved across her lips.
Beautiful.
Unsettling.
"Everything… is for you."
Her eyes softened—yet twisted, like a crescent moon glowing in the dark.
The future was painful.
Terrifying.
Even the past had been no different.
But she wouldn't break.
As long as Raven—
Hadn't broken.
"…Now, Raven."
A soft, playful laugh escaped her.
"Let's meet."
And then—
She vanished.