When the mist finally cleared, chaos briefly gave way to an unexpected scene: the sunlight pierced through the remnants of destruction. It shone brightly, as if the world deliberately ignored the suffering beneath its glow. The sky, clear and serene, stood as a cruel contrast to the disaster. That fleeting calm felt almost like a mockery.

The ground beneath my feet wobbled, and before I could react, I fell. The impact against the rubble was brutal; the pain shot through my body like lightning. I tried to move, but my arm screamed in protest. Looking at it, I saw that it was broken. Every breath was torment; the fractured ribs seemed to slice my air like invisible blades. My mind drowned in the sensation of defeat.

With an almost superhuman effort, I tried to rise, but my body simply didn’t respond. I closed my eyes, letting the darkness envelop me, resigned to the end. I had failed. It was all over.

But then, something changed.

Suddenly, the pain faded. I opened my eyes and found myself surrounded by water. There was no trace of injury on my body; everything was intact. The place felt familiar, an echo of the dreams I had so often before. It was an infinite space, as dark as the night, where the water was the only source of light, glowing with an ethereal brilliance that gently caressed the darkness.

I began to walk, each step leaving ripples that seemed unwilling to disappear. The memory of Sora and the chaos faded behind me, erased by the strange peace emanating from this place.

Then, I saw it.

In the distance, a figure appeared on the horizon. It was a shadow, a black blot that devoured the light around it, as if the universe itself recoiled in its presence. I tried to focus, but the more I did, the less I could understand what I was seeing. The figure was surrounded by black fire, a fire that didn’t illuminate but consumed. The flames danced hypnotically, leaving behind tiny threads of black ash that dissolved into the air like sighs of despair.

Its eyes were two white circles, empty yet infinite. Looking into them was like peering into an endless abyss, an irresistible force that captured my attention and wouldn’t let me go. There was something terribly familiar about them, as if they had been watching me all along.

—We meet again, — the figure said, its voice a distorted echo that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. Despite speaking, there was no mouth, only that unyielding darkness.

—Who are you? — I managed to ask, my voice barely a drowned whisper.

Before I could get an answer, the figure vanished. The light from the water extinguished in an instant, and the entire world sank into suffocating darkness. It was a thick, almost tangible blackness, enveloping me as if I were trapped in a thick, endless liquid.

And then, only silence remained.

Suddenly, the water beneath my feet began to glow with a blinding intensity, revealing fragmented images of what was happening in reality. There I was, lying on the ground, my body as still as a corpse, while Sora, with a gaze filled with disappointment and disdain, took a seat on a grotesque throne he had created in the middle of that devastated stage.

Around him, human shadows began to materialize: civilians, soldiers... people torn from their lives, forced to endure the tortures Sora seemed to enjoy with a perverse pleasure. The spectacle was macabre, a display of cruelty that twisted my stomach and ignited a helpless rage within me.

Suddenly, I felt a chill down my neck. The shadow reappeared behind me, its presence enveloping the space like an oppressive tide.

—I'm glad we can finally talk face to face, — it said with a voice that slithered like a poisonous whisper.

—Who are you? — I repeated, my voice broken between disbelief and rage. —Where am I? —

—I am you, — it replied, leaving a pause so heavy it seemed to devour the silence. —Or well, that's what I would like to say. I am a representation of your soul, a being that takes care of you... as if I were your guardian angel. —

—But you're not an angel. —

—Of course not, child," it responded with a harsh laugh that echoed like a distorted sound. "I was tied to your life from the moment we came out of that tube, from that container. It was a pitiful sight... seeing you live that pathetic existence."

—Then you were the one who...? — I started, horror invading my words.

—Of course. Who else would have burned the entire village? — It leaned closer to me, so close that I could feel an unnatural cold emanating from its intangible form. —That was the only time I had complete control. —

—You bastard! — I yelled, a fury rising from the deepest part of my being.

I launched a desperate punch, but its figure vanished like smoke before my fist could even brush against it. In an instant, it reappeared behind me, its presence as overwhelming as ever.

—Come on, don't rush it. Can't you see you're in a very complicated situation? — Its tone was mocking, almost amused. —At this rate, all your friends are going to die. —

—What do you want? — I asked, gritting my teeth. —Why, after all this time, do you decide to show yourself in front of me? —

—You know perfectly well what I want. — A monstrous smile appeared on its face, a gesture that stood out in the absolute gloom. It was a smile that was too wide, too unnatural, and alongside its white eyes, it was the only thing visible on its body. —I want complete control of your body. —

—Never, — I said, my voice firm despite the terror that weighed on my chest. —The last time you had it... you only brought destruction and death. —

The shadow slid to my back with a speed that made my skin crawl. Its hands, cold as steel, rested on my shoulders. There was something in its touch, a mix of persuasion and threat, that felt like an impossible weight to ignore.

—Come on, — it whispered with a sweet voice, laden with implicit danger. —You have no other choice. —

—Of course I do, — I replied, taking a step back to free myself from its grip. —I just need to wake up again. —

My eyes scanned the space frantically, searching for something, anything, that could indicate an escape. But there was nothing beyond the glowing water and the oppressive darkness.

—You won't be able to come back, — the shadow stated with a disturbing calmness. —You're dead. —

Its declaration hit me like an unexpected storm.

—What? — I stammered, feeling a chill run down my spine.

—The fall killed you. Seems you weren't as strong as you wanted to believe. —

—You're lying. —

—Why would I lie? — it asked mockingly, extending its arms in a theatrical gesture. —You're in limbo. Your existence is hanging by a thread, and I'm the one keeping you here. —

—I could never give you control, — I growled, clenching my fists.

The shadow let out a dry laugh, devoid of any trace of humor.

—Do you really think you have control here? — it mocked, its empty eyes boring into mine.

—Of course I do. If I didn't, why would you be asking me for control? —

For a brief moment, the smile that had been a constant on its face disappeared, replaced by a seriousness that only intensified the threat it represented.

—Fine, think whatever you want. But remember something, kid, — its eyes seemed to burn with an intensity that pierced the darkness. —I'll always be here. Inside you. In your dreams, in your nightmares, in every moment death brushes against you. —

—What are you planning? — I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though fear clung to my chest.

Stolen novel; please report.

—I'm going to heal you, — it replied, stepping back. With a wave of its hand, the water twisted and from it emerged an imposing door, its frame made of black wood that seemed to devour the light around it.

The shadow pointed at the door, its smile returning, wider and more grotesque than ever.

—When you can't take it anymore, when you feel everything is lost, just say 'requiem.' In that instant, I'll take control. Until then, keep pretending you're the master of your fate. —

It extended its hand toward me, waiting. I hesitated, observing those thin, deformed fingers. Then, I looked up at its face, that monstrous expression that promised both salvation and damnation. Finally, with no other option in sight, I took its hand.

The contact was icy, as if the very essence of the shadow was seeping into my skin. The door opened with a deep creak, and as I crossed it, I felt a pull in my being.

Instantly, I awoke.

The pain was gone. My body was intact, as if death had never touched me. I found myself once again among the rubble, devastation stretching around me.

In the distance, Sora remained on his throne, a cruel spectator enjoying his theater of torture. Humans, both civilians and soldiers, were dragged one by one, their screams piercing the air.

That's when I saw them.

Miguel and Kiomi were rushing toward Sora, throwing themselves into the fight with desperate fury. But Sora repelled them easily, his expression unmoved, almost bored.

—Zein! — Naoko's voice broke through my daze.

She was by my side, her face reflecting a mix of relief and distress.

—Are you okay? — she asked, leaning toward me, her trembling hands checking my nonexistent wounds.

The war raged on around us, but her gaze remained fixed on me, as if in that moment, I was the only thing that mattered.

I reassured her with a small smile and stood up, though my body still felt the weight of the battle. Alexander, who had also arrived as reinforcement, approached with a furrowed brow, quickly assessing my condition.

—Zein... — he said, his tone filled with concern.

—Alexander, Naoko, — I looked at them directly, my voice steady despite the chaos around us, —We have to attack together. It's the only way. If we fail, this planet is lost.—

Alexander nodded with determination and placed a firm hand on my shoulder.

—Count on me. —

—Count on me too! — Naoko exclaimed, her voice trembling at first, but with an enthusiasm that slowly gained strength.

Without another word, we charged toward Sora. Each of us attacked with different techniques, combining our strengths in an attempt to overwhelm him. But no matter how hard we tried, Sora barely seemed to notice us.

His long-range attacks were fast, precise, and unpredictable. With every move, it felt as though he was playing with us, measuring our abilities. The worst part was the constant threat that he might summon the Imaginary. If he did, our chances would be completely erased.

The first to fall was Miguel. He had fought relentlessly since before my arrival, and still, his energy seemed endless. But a single well-placed strike from Sora knocked him out, sending him to the ground with an impact that resonated across the battlefield.

Alexander didn't let that stop us. While we continued to fight, he moved swiftly across the field, healing us when he could and reinforcing our defenses with his magic. However, this support did not go unnoticed by Sora.

—Interesting... — Sora murmured, directing his gaze toward Alexander with a sinister smile.

Before he could attack, we intervened, blocking his attempts to reach our healer. But the toll of the battle began to take its toll on us. The fight dragged on, and with each passing minute, we felt our strength waning, while Sora remained as fresh as when it started.

Kiomi was the next to fall. In a brutal move, Sora hurled her against a nearby building. The impact was deafening, and the dust that it kicked up covered the area like a cloud of despair. When the dust settled, Kiomi lay motionless, out of combat.

Now, only three of us remained.

—Well, you're weaker than I imagined, — Sora said, with his usual mocking tone that ignited the rage in our hearts. —Zein, I have to admit, I'm surprised you recovered from those wounds, but it seems that was the only surprise you had to offer. —

We didn't respond. We were too focused, too exhausted to fall for his taunts.

Sora narrowed his eyes, his smile fading momentarily as he realized his attempt to demoralize us had failed. However, there was still an unbreakable arrogance on his face, as if he knew our resistance wouldn’t last much longer.

The air around us felt heavier, charged with tension and despair. Yet, despite everything, there was still something left inside of us. A small flame that wouldn't be easily extinguished.

—Not even your friends, who were easily defeated. After I finish with you, I’ll kill them. Then, everyone on this continent. Afterward, I'll move on to the next. Those who survive... I'll make them slaves. —

—Not if I stop you! — Naoko shouted, charging at Sora with overflowing fury.

—Naoko, NO! — I yelled, but it was already too late.

To my surprise, her attack wasn’t in vain. Naoko managed to land a precise blow, cutting off Sora's right arm. For a moment, the air seemed to stop. The black blood pouring from the stump arced through the air in a macabre trajectory, while Sora stepped back, his face twisted in pain and surprise.

—Brat... — he muttered through clenched teeth, his eyes burning with rage as his arm began to regenerate slowly, a terrifying sight that seemed to twist reality itself.

Before Naoko could react, Sora used his other arm to strike her with overwhelming force, sending her crashing into a wooden beam that broke under the impact. Naoko's sword fell from her hand, clanging against the wet ground.

But it didn’t end there. Two giant trunks emerged from nowhere, aiming to crush her where she lay. Though they missed by mere inches, the effort left Naoko out of combat.

Now, only two of us remained.

—Zein, don't rush it, — Alexander warned me, his voice trembling from exhaustion and fear.

—Don’t worry, — I replied, though my own sense of security was beginning to waver.

Nightfall was beginning, and with it, the weight of reality. It seemed impossible that we could defeat him, but something inside me refused to give up.

It was then that the sun began to sink beyond the horizon, tinting the sky a deep red, almost as if it shared our despair. The first drops of rain started to fall, light at first, then more persistent.

—Is this your doing? — I asked, my voice thick with suspicion, my breath quickening.

—What, the rain? — Sora let out a dismissive laugh. —Don't be an idiot. I'm not powerful enough to control it... or maybe I am. Who knows? That's up to your imagination. —

Before I could respond, it happened. Sora vanished.

It was faster than the rain, faster than the blink of my eyes, faster than the perception of time itself. In an instant, he was there, and in the next, he was gone.

The world seemed to crumble around me as the sound of the raindrops echoed with an eerie resonance. A freezing chill ran down my spine.

—Alexander... — I whispered, unable to hide the fear in my voice. —Where is he? —

—I don't know... — Alexander replied, his eyes scanning the darkness around us frantically. —But get ready. This isn't over. —

The tension in the air was palpable, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Sora was playing with us, and every second that passed brought us closer to the limit of our strength.

In the blink of an eye, Sora reappeared, and with him, Alexander was at his mercy. Sora held him by the jaw, lifting him as if he were a mere toy. Alexander, barely aware of what was happening, began kicking and throwing desperate punches.

—How pathetic, — Sora murmured, his tone cold and disdainful. I could see how he was preparing an attack.

—Don't do it! — I shouted with all my strength, but it was futile.

—Nothing personal. —

With those words, Sora drove his arm through Alexander’s stomach. The force of the impact stopped any resistance in him, and little by little, he stopped moving. As a final act of contempt, Sora crushed his jaw and threw him toward me as if he were a broken doll.

Alexander's lifeless body fell to the ground in front of me, and the relentless rain began to stain with a dark red as it mixed with his blood.

—Do you see what awaits them? — Sora said, his voice echoing like a cry of despair in my mind. —Surrender already, and I'll make sure your death and your friends' deaths are quick and painless. —

I couldn’t believe it. Everything seemed lost. My hands trembled as I stared at Alexander's unmoving body. The feeling of helplessness suffocated me like an unbearable weight.

—It doesn't make sense anymore... — I murmured, more to myself than to Sora. My will was breaking, along with any hope. He was right.

I knelt in front of Alexander, unable to move, to think, to do anything. The rain kept falling, each drop sounding like a lament in my ears.

—....—

—....—

—...Re-—

—...Requiem. —

…

When I woke up, everything was a blur. My senses returned slowly, as if I were emerging from a dark abyss. Around me, I saw the bodies of my friends scattered on the ground, motionless. I had managed to avoid a fatal blow by reinforcing my body at the last second, but even so, the impact had knocked me unconscious.

I got up with difficulty, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. I searched for my sword, and upon finding it, I gripped it tightly, taking a defensive stance. I didn’t know what to expect, but I couldn’t let my guard down.

I looked around, searching for signs of life. There they were—Kiomi and Miguel, lying on the ground, unconscious.

But as I searched for Zein and Alexander, I came across something I never could have imagined.

Alexander lay on the ground, his jaw missing and an enormous hole in his chest. Blood mixed with the rain, forming reddish puddles that stained the water. A chill ran down my spine as I processed the scene.

I looked around frantically for Zein, but I couldn’t find him. There was no sign of Sora either. A fleeting thought crossed my mind: Could Zein have taken him to fight somewhere else?

Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed in front of me. The ground trembled beneath my feet, and a thick curtain of smoke engulfed everything around me.

When the smoke cleared, I saw it.

Standing before me was a figure cloaked in complete darkness, like a living shadow. As I tried to focus on it, all I could perceive was a black smear—an absolute void. It seemed to be wrapped in flames, but they were far from normal: the fire was as black as the abyss, with purple sparks that crackled and dissolved into tiny particles before turning into dark ash.

Its eyes were two white circles, deep and empty. They caught me, mesmerizing me; it was impossible to look away. They were overwhelming, filled with an intensity that seemed to consume everything around them.

In its right hand, it held the lifeless head of Sora. I froze. How was this possible? Sora could regenerate... What in the world was this thing?

Fear washed over me, leaving me paralyzed. My body began to tremble uncontrollably, and panic caused me to drop my sword. Unable to withstand the pressure, I fell to my knees before that terrifying presence.

The figure remained still, staring at me. Then, from my trembling lips, a barely audible whisper escaped:

—Zein...? —

At the sound of his name, the flames engulfing the figure suddenly extinguished, as if they had never existed.

Before me, Zein’s body collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious. Sora’s head rolled toward me, lifeless, like a simple bowling ball.

For a moment, everything fell silent. The rain kept falling, but the world seemed to have stopped.