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One month later...

Ren has arrived in Thailand, now he was having language crisis and asked Izayoi to translate shit when he found himself speaking Thai to them. "The fuck, Ren! Can you stop shouting!?" the android grumbled, since they're in public and there were a few people walked past the six. Kaizo shook his head when Ren kept struggling to figure out if he would get into trouble. And thanks to Izayoi's ability, they were speaking in English and there were no translation issues on getting arrested. "Who are we going to look for?" Hakuren asked, standing beside Shenlan as the seven Vidyadharas are gathering near the Chao Phraya River. "We're looking for divine technician for the Jade Ballista in Floating Restaurant of the God, and the person is Thai--"

Prime explained on behalf of Ren's confusion, since his memory and knowledge were stored inside him and Dinda's android. "The bad news is, I can't pronounce his name in Thai nor recalling him--but the good news is... his nickname is Johann," Ren continued, making them flabbergasted--that's HIS nickname right!? They weren't wrong, in case the technician lived with their Thai relatives, at the capital city of Bangkok. "Are you serious... that's his nickname? You know, Thai's nicknames are... something else, you know..." Izumo looked concerned by this, as the six boys exchanged glances when Johann was walking towards them with a friend and accompanied with guards.

"See?" Ren tried to remain cool and calm before waving at him.

Johann has a tall and lean but muscular stature as a young Thai fellow, a brown short hair with long bangs over his olive-colored eyes and orange-yellow visor and light fair complexion. He wears a white turtleneck sweater under his dark blue denim jacket, black pants and red sneakers--carrying a mechanical toolbox with him. He looks like a high school student due to his age, which he was around Ren's age with his friends and allies.

Johann is goofy, blunt and casual teenager who has a passion for inventing things ever since he was a kid, he love to joke around and laughed along--especially to Farlan which he has a soft spot for robotics and technology. He is an aspiring inventor to make a bigger-better robot models, and a person who was kind to animals. "My name is Pataraminthra Jakkhaphranatakorn, or you can call me Johann," he introduced. The others gave a long awkward pause, the name was so fucking difficult to pronounce for them. "Eh?" they exclaimed. The said boy grinned at them, with a sheepish smile and a shrug. "Forget it, I prefer everyone to call me Johann."

"Alright, Johann... sorry if we scared you," Izumo apologized while adjusting his red-colored visor, seeing him laughing with laidback and toothy smile. "Nah, it's fine! It's nice to meet the champions sent by our gods... oh? Are these your allies, Riyanda?" Johann perked with a small smile when he noticed he has a company for his journey, Ren nodded. "Yup, we heard about your achievements and I think we are..." Shenlan muttered, before she sighed. "Do you have experience in activating ancient weaponry for a long time?"

"Obviously, yes... but the tech I should be restoring or repair is still in ruins. I still wanted to learn about this and it's pretty new for the current civilization," the latter remarked, like if there will be a bad ending if this keep happening for hundred years. Then, he saw Sadana came to them, carrying the sacred artifact. "It's beautiful... and well-guarded the whole time," Johann was overwhelmed from the antique item, before a curious question came to his mind. "Okay, I'm in! What are we facing this time?" he said with a smile, without second thoughts.

Woah, how come the technical nerd like him didn't even hesitate about this!? He's been excited like--all the time he decided on repairing the gears and other robotic things. Dinda asked him, and he might help build android guards that he wished would brought with them to fight against the Phantom Beasts and the gods of the Heavens. "Yeah... I understand how it feels like, because the gods up there are so cruel and selfish for creating the Phantom Samsara as the best part!"

Johann exclaimed his admiration towards the technology, and Dinda nodded her head in agreement as they turned on the gears that repaired the Jade Ballista. Their ride will head straight through the clouds, until the gate--that Ren has unlocked before and entering into another gate. "I have an assistant with me, her name is Theravanakorn Suwanathanat or you can call her Pairin! She's a technician as well," he added with a smile, another Thai name that made Ren's head aching. "Aaagh! That's definitely another different level!"

"Well, Ren... you can actually start learning these."

Shenlan spoke with a smirk, before she pushed him. "Shut up, so it's Pairin now, huh?" he demanded, but it turns out the technician was a young maiden instead. Pairin has long and wavy crimson-orange hair with a golden crown similar to royal princess with four golden feathers, colored orange-gold eyes and a light fair complexion--along an orange visor on her eyes. She was wearing a white-red beautiful large elaborate bodice with a red top with gold symbols and sleeves, with gold neck accessories, long black pair gloves, a tight-black-lace skirt with a floral-style pattern, and red heels with pointed ends--she also holds a tablet with her. "Hello, Riyanda," she greeted with a gentle voice, that seems friendly with a glint smile to her expression.

The former god's vessel gulped from her presence, why is she beautiful as he imagined? "Hello, Pairin..." he greeted back, which Dinda clasped her hands happily. "Nice to meet you, Pairin! We welcome both of us into the restaurant, right?"

"Definitely... and oh, I'm not surprised you're Ren. Who is this adorable little friend of yours?" Pairin asked, crouching to see a sight of a small brown German Shepherd puppy lying on the wooden barrel, yawning and had a cute wagging--while Izayoi answered. "Chiko... that's his name," Ren managed to identify it with no trouble. Right when they were traveling together, they are starting a life story of Ren's allies--and on their part, all they have to do was protecting the world from the Phantom Beasts until the time comes. Pairin played with the puppy while conversing with each member in their group, as she wanted to know them more about their lives. There will be several surprises in store if anything happens to them.

Johann was drooling at the feast they prepared, as well as Farlan and Izumo became giddy. Dinda have decided to take an opportunity to write the next journal entry for their adventure. "I sent Seraph and Yomi to guard the pavilion here, so there won't be disturbances," Kaizo informed Ren, who is preparing his polearm weapons. The floating temple has several defenses when the six were in the base, just in case they were invading other islands when their hideout was too exposed. "A pleasure meeting the new ally who wants to abolish the Phantom Samsara," Sadana greeted them.

So everyone started to feast with a heavy loads of foods to celebrate. This could be interesting: Ren felt very energetic and excited about this decision!

"To the fall of Phantom Samsara!"

Few hours later...

Ren was reading Chinese scriptures that was floating in the middle of his hand and then converted it to a hologram text, which was inside the room in case he wanted to stay in peace. He brought all of them with him, written with a black ink and paper, and how could his father kept them all along for five thousand years. He has changed as a warrior, all he needs is to prepare for their debut. While he was smiling happily from that side of him, Ren spotted the people standing and watching them with Sadana's help. "Johann, can you speak Chinese? I need help here," he asked, since he need help to translate some mantras.

Johann nodded with a smile, approaching him and leaning his head closer to see what is written. "It says: 'Gods of Samsara, hear my command. 'Destroyer of Eternity' by my name!'" he translated, narrowing his eyes. He never see these divine chants that combined with voodoo mantras, until something clicked--who could have discovered the Divine Code. "This is definitely made by the Scarlet Army, in a way to destroy the world once they rule this universe, at the same time seeking after the gods' treasures and keeping others away!" he said, widening his eyes with rage.

Dinda must have know the codex by seeing the scroll that was next to the book Ren is studying. Then, Sadana told him that Johann's ancestors have served the first diviners since the old age, that's right--he's a descendant of divine sorcerer who gave the names to the warriors of Floating Island at the beginning, they were like ancient Chinese shaman who can pray to the spirits in this dimension. Until, Sadana received information from the other side on his dial telephone--regarding Ren's high school friends; Konami and the rest like Hyde, Shiro, Shūhei, Hakusan and Eiko. "What, Konami? There was a what?"

Ren stopped studying when he heard the tone from Sadana's voice, he heard someone's name is mentioned and... his eyes widened upon hearing that. He waited for him to finish his call from Konami's older brother Kazuya, what happened to them now doesn't matter right now--because Kazuya have informed him that the Phantom Beasts and Scarlet Armband Army had attacked Osaka before in a huge size. "There was no enough information I got on where is he heading, the Scarlet Army must have tracked us. The army who led them... is a high-ranking android, the Captain of all androids named... Kushinada."

Kushinada is a dangerous android who committed crimes, the creator had abandoned him in the seas and planned to keep him off their tracks from harming the people in cities. He's responsible for the death of murdering people with 'unique' lineages that are rich of power and stealing all treasures belonging to gods--including the legendary relics of the Celestials. "Even though they had sacrificed, you're more than relief your allies are safe... but both of them could have a worse day or you could say: a living hell if this keeps happening."

Sadana remembered that expression on his face, when he wanted to change the samsara after it was already breaking the cycle of lives. Ren clenched his fists, before he growled. "Where are they now?!"

Hakuren narrowed her eyes when she listens while holding the small white fox, before she placed the fox on the floor so her father Reoh transformed into a human. "Please tell me if my son Hakusan is safe... even Shūhei..." he muttered, before he thought of his late-second wife who was there too. "No, Kasai..."

In the island...

It was downpour in the night where the flames of the houses were around, Ren walked with Sadana and his friends--searching for Konami and her friends with the SAR team. "Damn, another Phantom Eruption...?" Kaizo muttered, picking up the ashes and looking around. The people were weeping, but they survive that explosion and some of their relatives have become dead or survived in debris. Izumo also happen to see the 'timeline' in this island changed, as if there's a conflict going on before the eruption--resulting deaths of people and some survived from the tragedy.

Konami was laying on the ground in the rainy night, contemplating her decision whether she should just die or run away. There, an unconscious dark brown and white spiked mini hedgehog was held in her hands protectively--possibly the animal form of her late-lover. "My life... is meaningless... huh?" she murmured, her nose sniffing as she tried to take a deep breaths before she laughed with cold tone. Ren found her under the debris and the muds of the downpour, before Dinda helped him to remove the wreckages away. They spotted her covered in blood and ashes, she survived but at what cost...?

"Chaotic Timeline... in this timeline, my life wasn't suppose to be living like this," she muttered, as she stared at her hands. Her eyes opened with pure emptiness, her heart were hollow. Tear beads flowed down from the edge of her eyelids, her bitter laugh were mingled with the sound of rain and thunder, sounding harsh and despaired. "Konami! Aagh, damn!" Ren yelled, he almost skid to his knees and helped her sitting up. Dinda touched her forehead and gasped. "Riyanda! She was...!"

Konami gazed at the former God's vessel, with the others. There was a hole that has a gash in her chest, it looked like a sword stabbed her mercilessly--she was in pain all over her body. "Dinda, heal her with your zither!" Ren shouted, Dinda nodded frantically with fear. Izayoi and Hakuren knew it was too much to bear when the girl was badly injured because there was a wound on her head, and her legs were broken. Farlan's eyes widened when he witnessed Shūhei's corpse on the ground... with Hakusan's as Shenlan covered her mouth, it didn't go unnoticed by Hakuren to see them and she saw her father's eyes wide-eyed in both shock and depression.

"N-no... Shūhei... Hakusan...!"

That was the last one she said before darkness surrounded her mind when the pain overwhelms her in delusion as she has gone limp, making everyone tried their best to help her survive. Eiko winced in pain when Yomi helped her out from the debris and Seraph helped Shiro from there too, they were both injured but made their way through from death. Ren was breathing in rapid pace, finding himself had felt awful when the gods' power manifested strongly within his soul--he nearly lose her too. "At what cost...? What would stop... the chain of endless deaths and chaos continues to reign...?"

There were many questions crossed on his mind. If the gods wanted to be respected and feared for samsara, then why samsara is an endless cycle to repeat time and time again? Whatever the reason why did Kuran sealed his fate with a mortal body and reincarnated into Ren, before he and Nanda died--making Ren regained his vessel back. "Konami, we can restore Hyde's power so he'll return," he reassured her, hoping to cheer her up as Dinda played a zither on her lap--healing the injuries of the victims.

Konami didn't react nor say a word after her pathetic performance, and he would have expected her to start crying and yelling--but not a simple silence. Not one whimper was audible but the occasional heavy sniff, then finally, she let her head hang low and her auburn hair masked her expression. "Look at what I'm holding,"he said as he gestured his other hand at her, which surprised her to see her lover's memories appeared in her mind. Then, it disappeared as soon as she reached it.

It seemed to her that a window had opened in the air, giving her a chance to live and redeem herself. "Give me the hedgehog, I promise I won't hurt the little guy--he has some memories which he'd lost," he cooed, holding out a hand and offered it at her. "Trust me, if you want to escape from the burden and carry the past along you everywhere--it'll just slowed you down, not just from the pain of the loss, but from a mental breakdown."

It was as if he was drawing a picture of what he meant, making its' unspoken meanings clear. "If you have trouble to speak," Ren told her as she started to sob again. "If you don't feel the right words coming, just nod your head if you understand my warning."

Konami nod her head slowly with a heavy sigh, her head still hung low as tears dropped from the end of her eyes. What did he mean 'slow her down'? By having the memory, it'll give her hope. Then, she handed the unconscious hedgehog to him, before she curled into a ball. Ren could hear Hakuren trying to make sure her father won't cry, but they ended up broke into the heartbreaking sob since they're not the only victims who lost someone dear and precious. He was holding the floating white orb, just like a bullet. He merged the memories into his palm and inserted it inside the mini animal hedgehog, it puffed in a white smoke and he handed it to her again.

She blinked, amazed at the sudden turn of events. The hedgehog's eyes opened--albeit looked hazy. "Seems like the spell that prevented the curse has faded away," he spoke, then the mini animal suddenly squeaked out an angry cry and scratched him with its claws. "H-H..." she called, thankfully the hedgehog knows her voice. "Bastard..." was the only words she managed to remember, before she muttered. "Hyde... no... Wútiān..."

Konami widened her eyes in surprise when the hedgehog tried to crawl weakly onto her, her eyes were fixed at him. Then, the small animal nudged on her like a puppy wanting to be pet. She gently picked him up and held him close to her cheek--unable to recall the memories of the person who made her happy by his heart filled with purity and happiness. It took her few minutes or an hour, then Hyde mewed in pain and transformed himself--into a pale young man with messy short blonde hair with brown tips on his bangs over his red eyes and sunglasses, he wears his black semi-formal shirt with elbow-length rolled sleeves and white pants with black shoes--he was completely injured from his stomach. "I'll take you to my humble abode to get you clean up," he told them.

Shiro was mourning for Shūhei's death, his lover and he couldn't believe those army did it--at least Hyde was alive with Eiko and Konami so he was relieved. Hakuren hugged her father who was collapsed in her arms, her tears flowed from her eyes when he cried as well. "We're... sorry..." she whispered, giving the moment for everyone including them and also the victims who suffered heavily when the Phantom Eruption became huge before this happened.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

In the Floating Restaurant of the Gods...

Konami still recalled some memories of their moments in love, the two of them were really alike for reasons she couldn't even begin to unravel. And though she had known much pain and disappointment, he'd always brought out the better side in her. As long as she still have that chance for redemption, it'll not be too late. However, the poor girl remembered what happened before her past life ended, once and for all. "Hyde... do you remember?" she muttered, looking at her boyfriend who was drinking a glass of human blood that Ren gave to him. Hyde's injuries regenerated after he gained his power as Māra vampire back, he glanced at her--before he put a hand to her cheek.

Then, Dinda pulled her zither so that she could take a break. Eiko was in charge to heal their wounds, before Ren glanced at Pairin who came along the Floating Island with them. "Haku, how's..." he paused, his friend Hakuren was still comforting her father Reoh--he's still shaken from all of these losses. "No. Please... comfort him, Ren. Even I won't know he'd been looking forward to see them again," she said, but it seems like she'd changed into a more reliable one despite she acted like a tough and independent girl before. Ren nodded, before he sat down beside him and his father Rihan also shocked to see what happened here. "Father, can you comfort him? I need to check if everyone's are all here," Ren told him, Rihan nodded silently without a word, just from the same expression of sadness he made when he heard the news.

Pairin explained to him this had ever happened before, for a thousand years--scattering the gems of the Divine Code could purify and rearrange the timeline or leave the earth to rot into chaos, the Scarlet Armband Army can control the tides of the events with a right words of ancient mantras to maintain peace and stability. It works for samsara also, especially the true end: annihilating every god responsible for the end of an endless cycle.

"I lost my friends... I realized that... everything is jumbling up right now... the Kobe... the Hebi... the bloodline has gone... so there's only me and Hyde left who survived--" she explained, before she added. "Shiro... he's here, he also... lost Shūhei and... Hakusan... Eiko survived with me... my older brother Kazuya survived too..." she sobbed, before Eiko patted her back to comfort her from the pain. "I feel like shit... they... hated us... I hate Four Elemental Lineages, I'm glad that... they're gone now... they rest in peace now!"

It seems like they had conflict back then and Eiko couldn't stop them, no wonder Shiro feel guilty about his late-lover's death. Dinda kneeled down in front of her, before she hugged Konami to comfort her from the emotional turmoil. After Ren had finished the check-up, Ren ordered to make the guests comfortable here when they survived so they are having meals and drinks to gain back their energy, he got a hold of a gemstone which belongs to Kazuya's arm guard--because the Scarlet Army had used their brains to hack it, this could be either a trap or a new way to prevent them from stopping the Phantom Eruption, either way--Sadana have to stop it.

Ren was preparing himself if anything happens, after the Tiryags left to deal with other mess--even Kohaku entrusted these Vidyadharas to stop the gods and Scarlet Armband Army.

Hyde regained his stamina as he glanced at Konami for a moment when Dinda released her and smiled at her, he slowly put the necklace with blue heart and silver ring pendant around her neck. She widened her eyes in surprise, she blinked slowly when he gave her this surprise gift when her heart felt happy. "This is for me...? Thank you," she thanked him, when Hyde started to hug her. He planted a kiss on her forehead, and slowly leaned his face against her when Ren's lips curved into a smile upon seeing the small reunion when they were alive and that brought hope to them. "It brings relief when they survived, right?"

Dinda asked when she stood beside him, holding her zither to her chest with a small smile as well. Ren nodded and went outside the base, seeing everyone recovering themselves from the emotional and physical wounds--that kind of sucks. "We did too much, yet it was a waste... until it was already too late. But if we really have that pure heart deep inside--just like she have... not just full of darkness and anger and guilt--this is truly a redemption we seek."

Ren vowed that after a hundred thousand lives and some have forgotten him, and perhaps this is his time to face samsara once again. To bring everything back to normal or try to prevent another timeline end, and the final one is their final enemy: the gods in the Heavens. So everyone took action, it's not really that easy but they could also start planting the seeds of redemption and grow together into a family and bonds with them. "Remember, they are not alone. They still have each other--even some family left, let's try to change the world they live in with no chaos nor war. Redeem our mistakes,"

Dinda had a bright dream and light glowed in her eyes, meaning: she believes in him when Ren became the vessel of the God of Pledge and his younger body would no longer break when he tapped on the powers in a short amount of time. Hakuren watched her father sat up from the bed, before she hold his hand. "Haku... I'm grateful to meet them again, somehow... I'm relief for the first time, and thank you," he said, trying to smile despite his tears dropped from his eyes. "Perhaps, I deserve it... for forgetting my late-wife from my first marriage... Hakusan wouldn't have hated me if I visited her grave..."

"Enough, father... Shūhei was strong from his own point of view and Hakusan looked up for you more than anyone," Hakuren reassured him, calming him down. She remembered how Hakusan complained to her that his father never remember his late-mother, he missed her so much that he didn't like how his father taught things how to gain things beneficially--while his late-mother taught him with the most kind and gentle words, so no wonder the son looked up his father and hopes that one day he could finally make him happy. But, Hakusan still hated him until now--now after his death... he must've be glad to reunite with his mother in the afterlife. Kasai ended up in the afterlife with Shūhei as well, even though Reoh deserved happiness... it still wasn't right enough.

But it doesn't mean they are giving up, right?

The ones who were watching over them somewhere, heard the story. "You know... how long does it takes for them to save their world?" Yomi asked, while Seraph sighed in a bitter tone. "Long as a hundred thousand years, and we already saw what we learned... but my grandmother have waited for a very long time until she knew the Guardian and the one they sought for coming to us... the worst enemy of the bad gods are... the one who reverse the fate and its' destiny. A warrior that bear the name from the vessel of God of Pledge called Kuran, the enemies were the one responsible for the destruction of their beloved world, and a phantom beast who tried to open the Eclipse Gate."

Hakuren helped her father stand up as she watched the snow-white haired young man was still clueless over what he needed to do--to do something against the Phantom Samsara. They were still unsure what he's capable of, and the girl wondered how did the Vidyadhara took some interest in studying him? Reoh rubbed his pounding head, before he sensed that the Kobe bloodline no longer part of him and Hakuren--the white snake named Mizu slowly vanished as she sacrificed herself into preventing the last two descendants from dying; which means they were reborn with new surnames; Murasame. "Father..."

Reoh glanced at his eighteen-years old eldest daughter, before she hold his hands--tightly. "Please don't make me say that I'm going to join them, so you can be by yourself and continue your quest," she tried to not make him cry, but she wanted to do it for him. Reoh couldn't help but to embrace her, as if this is his time for him to protect her daughter from death and her safety--but she tried to understand him. "I guess... it's our turn for redemption, right?" Hakuren wondered, glancing at Ren who turned to them--smiling gently.

"Haku... I'd rather be a widow, if you care."

It meant he refused if she should die for him--Hakuren sighed, but it felt somewhat pleasing to be told that. "Father, I don't have rights to stop you if you want to remarry or not but... you can't just left and forget everything behind," she told him, seeing him smiling bittersweet and tears flowed down from his eyes, and before he could say another word of his mind--she continued. "After your feud with Hakusan... I understand that he suffered more than you, mother and I, but... no matter what happened: I still want to stay by your side, and I'll choose this path you thought that's full of happiness... at least I feel I'm living in this world."

Reoh was silent for a moment, his tear finally dried up when his daugther finished the words. "Everyone makes mistakes, father... some of us do that a lot too... including me," she reassured him, before she let go of his hands. "I'm sorry, father... I was blinded, I wish... I've watched over Hakusan and took care of him better, to let him know he's not alone."

"Haku... I haven't been there for him," Reoh told her. "While he needs me, all I did to him was to become disappointed by not acknowledging my teachings when I was strict and... I love him."

"I do miss my older brother, though... when things got terrible when Kasai died and you too, right?" she could easily admit it, before she muttered. "Please... don't kill yourself again, after your parents forced you to kill her because she's from opposing clan. You did that... to redeem yourself, am I correct?"

Reoh nodded, while she embraced him when she patted his back. So is this how our sins could be redeemed...? From listening over their confessions from how life treated them badly and having doubts to what's right or wrong, as always--everyone has their own flaws; sometimes being selfish, stupid, etc... it was alright if they accept their flaws. Ren helped everyone to move on after the Phantom Eruption, so after it happened--they had to restore everything that was once lost. "Haku... maybe I'm a bad father, that I don't have better ways... just a lousy one."

But still, he was a terrible one yet good one at the same time. Hakuren had enough of this, now she's very pissed off and grabbed the young man's ear, tugging it off. "Now can you take a fucking shower? You stinks! My god... a thirty-year-old dork!" Hakuren exclaimed furiously. "Please, just admit when you are miserable and when you are upset! Instead of cutting people's head from crying and forcing everyone including me from seeing such stupid sadness of you being a wimpy adult--"

"Okay okay! Damn it, chill, I'm gonna shower!" Reoh blushed in embarrassment when she noticed his smell that made her sick, she'll have to spray her father with perfume when he's too 'bad'. So he hurried himself, thinking in his mind--wondering why didn't he became mature? Perhaps his personality made it a mess on him, he didn't considered himself as a human at the same time he was--what a strange feelings he didn't understand nor he ever care about redemption, he knew that everything changes: from the timeline to the bloodlines, to families and peace to chaos and to life.

Few days later...

Shiro recovered as he sat on the couch, looking at the food in front of him. He kept silent and smiled instead--an act and expression that make him in disbelief when he witnessed the moment when his lover passed away in his arms. After finding out what he did to Konami badly, it made him guilty that Konami rather get kicked out than forgiving him. Konami sat with Hyde on the side of Shiro and Eiko as her best friend, no one speak or laugh--only somber sighs. It was Eiko who broke the awkwardness, before as she smiled. "Hey... do you guys remember when the six of us got kidnapped and worked together in a team, from the nightclub?"

"Yeah, we got kidnapped because Shiro and Shūhei did a fucking mess... I think it was worth it."

Hyde replied with his eyes fixed on the glass of human blood that was on the table, before he drank it. Shiro frowned and didn't say anything, before he sighed. "I... understood now... why did I fell in love with him... it's because we both get to know our past... and how did we meet and become rivals for the first time and became friends, until it got worse when... you know," he said, glancing at Konami. "By the way, Konami... I'm sorry for what I did to you," he apologized, making Konami gasped in a slight shock. "Well, I defended Shūhei... not being neutral after what happened to Hyde... so kicking out Hakusan for doing that to him kind of... understandable..."

Hyde finished the entire glass of blood, he shook his head when the memory has a clue of what happened to them before the outbreak. Shiro glared at Hyde after he accidentally spilled the water at his shirt, which made him furious since he started making the food for everyone else. Konami patted their shoulders, so does Eiko who stopped them. "Stop it, guys... everything is in the past. At least we got Hakuren and her father Reoh alive, I think... it'll heal their wounds," she said, glancing at the entrance where their host--Ren was preparing their next quest. "No problem, let's just fix our bonds and move on."

Shiro approached Reoh who was walking with his daughter, he wanted to apologize. So he apologized to them for what happened back to Shūhei--and to Hakusan, no wonder they ended up having hatred against him. When Reoh smiled softly, Shiro was prepared that Hakuren would blast at him but she didn't--when he saw her expression was very different. "I'm sorry... for what happened to Hakusan, you may not be close to him--but it's still my fault that he is unable to reconcile with his father," he apologized, and glanced at her. "Even... Shūhei hasn't made peace with him."

"Shiro... it's okay, I believe both of them already reconcile up there--they're not mature enough to forgive someone until their late years and last moments," Hakuren reassured him, recalling the memories of her deceased friends. Shiro was speechless, before he thought. She's right... maybe they were waiting to forgive me, or do I deserve forgiveness? While both of them... had died. It's hard enough to let him recover himself, it took him a long time to get over his turmoil. "After we fulfill the promise: we can visit both Hakusan and Shūhei again," she smiled, with Reoh's nod. "Hakusan must've reunited with his first love, Akane... but I don't know if she's alive or not," she added, grinning at him.

She rubbed the boy's head with her hand, treating him as a younger brother. "And then, you'll confess again--let's start on a new leaf and friendship, hopefully they aren't mad. But, well--do something together in a friendly competition next time," she said as he understood the expression. Not that he's stupid, it just like he can predict the future before an inevitable prediction. "It was partially my fault for not able to take care of Hakusan when he was young..." Reoh admitted, biting his lip as his eyes have this sad and depressed look. "He deserved a happiness, a light and strength... I failed as a father, especially from the event that happened."

"I believe Hakusan will forgive you."

Eiko reassured him with a smile, causing him to jolt in surprise but then nodded slowly. How she and Konami seemed to believe everything, their personality from all of this could help themselves to change like the ones who have been looking at the good side of life to adapt to what's good and what's wrong--it'll never fades. "Also, I should've listened to your warnings... Reoh. I kind of broke up with Hakusan, because... he was having terrible mood after what happened ever since his hair becoming black from that curse... he hated himself and the bloodline--from what I learned."

Reoh didn't blame Eiko to do so, and he smiled at the girl who tried her best to make Hakusan happy but those months they drifted apart and what he revealed to her made them unable to rekindle their relationship. "I remember the last words from him when he asked me if we have different soulmates, maybe he wasn't destined with me. His first love is Akane, do you know her? I remember that he told me they were going to be engaged at young age but... they didn't love each other," she explained.

"Yes, it was our former clan's tradition: be paired up from early times, and I believed that clan would not accept same-sex marriage," Reoh explained. "Hakusan didn't meet that girl he likes, and so it was tragic. He took it after me, it terms of personality..." he added, he glanced at his daughter Hakuren who also happen to know him even he was far away from her despite they are part of the same clan, and he understood that she might be had a hidden guilt and sorrow upon seeing her own older brother who had a miserable life all this time. "I'm sorry..." Eiko muttered, sniffling a bit. "Everything is a mess right now and I kind of wanted to cry again."

Reoh smiled gently as he assured her that she can cry again, after all, they are emotionally broken. It's time to heal their emotions and wounds with a small smile, hoping to rekindle his bonds back--particularly with his daughter. Eiko knew she wasn't suited for Hakusan's love, so she reluctantly broke up with him and handed him back to Reoh--even after his death, she didn't know why did he hate him... but now it does have the meaning behind it. Yet, the reason still must remained for the current generation unless the one who resents could have a chance to ask him and mend their ways back.

Hakuren allowed Eiko to hug both of them for a small family comfort, which he hugged her and Hakuren comforted her by hugging her back. Hyde seemed happy to see how this kind of feels like at least Eiko want to take some part to comfort them, it was truly important for Eiko--because this was her redemption to ask for forgiveness; she's an orphan so she had to make these decisions after the lost. More worse, Reoh already treated Eiko like a daughter and the closest person he cared about the most... despite how much Hakusan had suffered throughout the end of the god's life samsara... from being blinded by his thirst for revenge to avenge the hatred on the Gods in Heavens. Reoh admitted he never paid attention to his children's problem, he was caught up in his job.

Ren watched them from the distance, it was hard for him to suffer more or less... they all were facing their trials, everything was a proof that this is their redemption. Kaizo patted his back to comfort him, seeing Ren still have his hope as always. Seraph was quite calm than Ren, despite this happens to the world often, and she couldn't help but to think the ending of the timeline.

"Do you know how many timelines are there, Riyanda?"

Rihan asked his son, Ren shrugged his shoulders. There's nothing that could heal their bonds, more of less it'll take them many centuries to solve the mystery behind the countless deaths that they faced--until all of this mess could have the right solution. This fate won't go wrong ever since the God of Pledge's former vessel will always going to save the world, on one matter of time or another. "Like from seven-hundred years ago, in the distant future, there will be more casualties. But, we will stop the chain of repeating what happened."

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