Celia's Perspective:

My mind was in an emotional turmoil, questions coming left and right yet I had no answers. This place… it was clearly just in my head. An illusion of what’s to come… but I won't accept it.

I stood in a dim corridor of swirling mists and flickering shadows—a place that felt both hauntingly familiar and eerily otherworldly. The air was heavy with secrets and whispers of destiny, each murmur different slowly pulling at the fragile threads of my resolve. In the midst of this chaos, I saw myself from the future whose presence radiated a calm certainty, as if she held the key to all my hidden truths.

She was me—only older, matured by the relentless march of time, a mirror reflecting the person I feared and never hoped to become. Her eyes, dark and infinite, met mine with a look that transcended the boundaries of age and reality.

Gathering every ounce of courage, I stepped forward, my voice trembling but determined as I asked, "What do you mean by all this? How are you here?"

She smiled, a hint of mischief and melancholy playing on her lips as if she had borne the weight of untold secrets for centuries.

"I am not here, Celia," she replied, her voice calm and resonant. "I am you—your future self. I have sent my consciousness back to speak with you, to guide you through the shadows that threaten to overwhelm your heart."

My mind reeled, the notion almost too fantastical to grasp. I took a trembling step backward, the echo of my own heartbeat a harsh reminder of how much I yearned for answers yet feared the cost of knowing them.

"But... why? How is that even possible?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, filled with both awe and trepidation.

Her eyes softened for a moment, and she spoke in riddles that was breaking on the edge of comprehension.

"It is within the realm of possibility for the Demonic Empress," she murmured, her voice carrying an eerie finality. "After all, I am the fear that haunts this world—the embodiment of its darkest nightmares. I have long surpassed the feeble limits that shackle mortals, wielding power beyond your comprehension."

Her words stirred something deep within me—a curious mix of hope and despair. I felt the weight of my destiny pressing upon my soul, as if the answers lay hidden in the darkness of my own emotions, waiting to be discovered.

Will I ever overcome this curse? Can I truly rise above the whispers that describe me as nothing more than a call of doom? My heart aches at the thought of a future where I become the fear of the world—the embodiment of its darkest nightmares. I never imagined that my gentle soul, my kind heart, could be twisted into something so terrifying.

Each step I take feels heavier than the last, burdened by the uncertainty of fate. Am I doomed to wander this lonely path, moving on the edge of chaos, or is there a way to rewrite the story that fate has chosen for me?

In that quiet, fragile moment, standing on the precipice of an unknown destiny, I vowed to seek the truth—even if it meant confronting painful doubts and the darkest corners of my soul.

Every whispered secret, every shadowed corridor seemed to pulse with a promise: that even if I am fated to become a creature of fear, perhaps, somewhere deep within, there remains a spark of hope—a chance to reclaim the compassion and light that is truly mine.

I took a trembling breath and forced my gaze upward.

"What did I do in the future?" I asked, my voice wavering with both hope and dread. "I need to know... I’m so scared of what might become of me."

She slowly stepped forward, her measured pace filled with an unsettling calm. With a demonic smile tugging at her lips, she replied,

"That's a very tough question to ask, especially coming from someone who hardly believes in herself—always so down, so fragile... so weak."

My heart pounded as I stuttered, "I... I—" The truth felt heavy on my tongue, each word a struggle against the wave of emotions flooding inside me.

She held up a hand, silencing my hesitant murmurs. "I'll only answer one of your questions," she declared, her tone both enigmatic and final. "May it be anything."

Swallowing hard, I pressed on, "Then... tell me. What did I do in the future? Why... why am I considered the fear of the world—if that’s even true?"

"Ara~ Ara~ Ahahaha~!" A devilish laugh escaped her lips—a sound that chilled me to the core. It was as if a villainess had stepped out of a nightmare, her mirth laced with cruelty.

image [https://i.imgur.com/zxBjaEg.png]

"It's a lie, isn't it?" I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper as panic crept in. "I can't be the fear of the world..."

Her laughter grew, echoing around us like a cruel symphony. "Oh, my naive little self," she mocked. "The most heartless, merciless, cold woman in the universe speaks in such hesitant tones."

Tears threatened to spill as I pleaded, "That's not true... I would never hurt anyone. Please, tell me it's a lie." Every word was laced with desperate hope, each word trembling under the weight of my misery.

Her eyes hardened and grew a darker shade of red as she stepped closer, her aura darkening with an intimidating, murderous intensity.

"Now," she intoned softly, "I can either tell you a lie—one that might ease your troubled heart and let you live in a pleasant fantasy—or I can give you the crushing truth that will force you to face reality."

I steadied my shaking hands, summoning every ounce of courage despite the quiver in my voice. "Then tell me the truth," I insisted. "I don't care how harsh it is... I know I'm not merciless. I wouldn't do something like that."

A long pause filled the space between us before she finally spoke, her voice low and unwavering. "Then truth be it." As she moved closer, a menacing aura radiated from her—a presence that made the air itself seem heavy with impending doom.

I recoiled slightly, my heart pounding in terror as she loomed before me. In that moment, I could feel every beat echoing the fear of what lay ahead.

"Six years from now," she began, her voice cold and absolute, "You will wage war against the entire world and humanity. You will slaughter 4.2 billion people—men, women, and children alike. There will be no mercy, no hesitation. The world will drown in the blood of your revenge."

Her lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. The amusement in her eyes was anything but kind. It was as if a demon had crawled out of the abyss, whispering prophecy with the certainty of fate itself.

The words struck me like a blow to the soul. I stood frozen, my insides shattering with each word. I couldn’t accept it—this future was a nightmare beyond imagining. Yet, deep within, I knew: there was no escaping the cruel logic of fate. Every step, every doubt, had led to this inevitable truth.

"You're lying, I won't do such a thing!" I cried out, tears blurring my vision as I stuttered, "I-I won't—"

She arched a delicate brow, a mocking smile curling her lips. "Aww, how cute of you, crying already?" she purred, a faint blush softening her otherwise cold features as she took a slow, deliberate step toward me.

"I-It's not possible..." I managed between trembling sobs, wiping at my tears with shaking hands. "Why would I ever do something so cruel?" My voice quavered with desperate uncertainty.

She chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Why indeed?" she mused, her tone laced with a sinister amusement. "Sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor, Celia. But understand this—what you do is not a choice born from whimsy. You made the decision to do it, known as destiny."

"D-destiny?" I echoed, my heart pounding painfully in my ears. "Please—please tell me why! I beg you, I can't bear this uncertainty any longer!" I pleaded, my words faltering as they tumbled out in a torrent of emotion.

A cold laugh escaped her lips, chilling the air between us. "Oh, you're begging me now, are you?" she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "The truth, my dear, is hidden in shadows. It is not for you to grasp completely yet, but to accept in time."

I stepped back, my voice barely a whisper as I continued, "But I have to know... why are you here? And why must I... become this—this fear that haunts the world?" Each word was punctuated by a stutter, a tremor of both fear and sorrow.

Her eyes gleamed with a merciless light as she leaned in closer, the space between us crackling with an ominous energy. "Because," she stated coldly, "this meeting is not about your tears or your doubts. It is about destinies intertwined. You exist on the razor’s edge between hope and despair, and I am here to ensure you walk the path fate has laid out for you."

I could barely breathe as her words sank in, my inner turmoil rising with every syllable. "P-please, just tell me why I'm meant to do this," I sobbed, my voice trembling with a mixture of defiance and fear. "Why must I bear such a burden? I don't want to be the fear of the world."

Her expression hardened, and she straightened, her voice turning steely and unyielding. "Enough," she commanded, cutting through my pleas like a sharpened blade. "I have given you hints for too long. Now, it is time to explain why I am here in the first place."

The air grew colder, and the shadows seemed to lean in as she continued, her tone a chilling blend of menace and inevitability. "You are here because you are destined to be more than you ever imagined—a force that will reshape the world, whether you wish it or not. Every tear you shed, every stutter of fear is but a prelude to the power that lies dormant within you."

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I trembled, caught between a desperate hope and a paralyzing dread. "No... it can't be... Please, I don't want this," I whispered, voice barely audible as I pleaded for some semblance of mercy.

I slowly wiped away my tears, trying to steady the quivering storm within me. For a fleeting moment, I closed my eyes and let the suffering wash over me. How many lives will be torn apart by this fate? I thought bitterly, my hands clutching my head as if to silence the screams echoing inside.

Then, unable to contain my rising panic, I shouted, "You're lying, stop lying!" My voice shattered the heavy silence, each word fueled by raw, desperate fear.

Her lips curled into a chilling smirk as she stepped closer, her tone as cold as a razor’s edge. "How amusing of you," she drawled, a mocking lilt threading through her voice, "but I'm not here to prove your innocence. I'm here to show you your powers."

I blinked, stunned by the implication, and stuttered, "M-my powers?" My heart pounded, the word echoing like a death knell in my ears.

She nodded slowly, her eyes dark and unyielding. "Yes, your powers. Listen carefully, Celia. In this moment, you are surrounded by your so-called friends: Kiel, Sword Saint Levi, and the demon who is the king of flames merged with Ronan—all controlled by the silent executioner. Without me, you're doomed. You’re bound to die."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I tried to steady my voice despite the terror creeping in. "I... I will die?" I repeated, each syllable punctuated by another tear as I fought to reclaim some semblance of resolve.

A cruel laugh escaped her lips. "Indeed," She said with a sinister glint in her eyes. "I'm here to tell you how to use your powers—to kill them all—"

I interrupted, my voice shaking violently as I cried out, "No... I won't kill anyone. I'm no murderer—" My plea died on my lips as the reality of her words crashed over me.

Her gaze hardened into something unrecognizable—cold, remorseless, and frighteningly detached. "You do realize, Celia, that if you continue on this path, you will die?" she stated, each word a final verdict.

Swallowing hard, I mustered the strength to speak through the torrent of fear and sorrow. "So be it then... if my death means billions of innocent people get to live, I will change fate with my own sacrifice." I looked straight into her eyes, a spark of determination igniting amidst the despair.

For a long, excruciating moment, she stared at me in disbelief. "You can't be serious right now..." she began, her voice dripping with condescension.

Inside, a whirlwind of memories and regrets surged. My whole life, people wanted me gone—whispering behind my back, glaring at me like I was a mistake, a stain that should be erased. And yet… I was the reason they were suffering. Even if they hurt me, even if they cast me aside, I would be no different if I let them die.

The world wanted me gone, and I was just a curse to them. But the thought of me killing them all in this fate—this future soaked in blood—was unbearable. How could I let them suffer because of me? How can I let 4.2 Billion people be slaughtered by my own hands?

This wasn’t right. This wasn’t even human anymore.

No matter what they did to me, they didn’t deserve this fate. They hated me, yet I couldn’t leave them to die alone. A future drowned in destruction, a world reduced to nothing—it had to be stopped.

Even if it meant giving everything up, even if it meant my own end, I would do it. The guilt of letting them die—my own existence bringing this darkness—was too much to bear. I had to be the one to stop it. Even if the world never loved me, I couldn’t stand to see it burn.

Even if it meant sacrificing everything… even if it meant I would never see tomorrow.

I took a deep breath, steadying the storm inside me. No more doubts. No more hesitation.

Lifting my chin, I declared, "I am. I won't accept this fate—even if it means I die."

"Ara~ Ara~ Kufufu~ Ahahaha~!" A devilish laugh escaped her lips—a sound that chilled me to the core.

"What's so funny?!" I screamed, my voice raw with desperation. "I'm serious—I'm going to sacrifice myself to change fate!" My words burst out in a rush of emotion, my hands trembling as I wiped away my tears.

Her eyes narrowed, and she spoke in a tone as cold as ice. "You do realize your actions have consequences, don't you?"

"C-consequences?" I stuttered, my resolve faltering for just a moment as doubt crept in. My heart pounded, each beat echoing with fear.

"Are you really going to betray him?" she pressed, her voice laced with cruel amusement. "For strangers who never cared about you?"

"H-Him...?" My voice cracked in confusion. I couldn’t believe the very notion was being suggested. My mind whirled, Who could possibly be worth saving billions of lives?

"Kaiser," she said, her tone cutting through the haze of my thoughts. "The man who risked his life for you. The first person who ever saw past the curse and liked you for who you truly are—even when the world despised you."

My breath hitched. "K-Kaiser? No, it can't be—" I tried to protest, but the words died in my throat as the gravity of her words sank in.

"The moment you reject my offer," She continued, her voice dropping to a threatening whisper, "He will die."

"No... that's not possible," I murmured, my heart shattering with each syllable. The thought of Kaiser—my first, most cherished friend—dying because of my decision was unbearable.

"You'll die first, and then he will be killed by them," she said, her tone unyielding and merciless. "Do you really wish to betray the last person who wholeheartedly trusted you?"

"You're wrong... He can't die..." I pleaded, tears streaming down my face as the realization crashed over me like a tidal wave. How can I let him pay for my weakness? The pain in my chest was almost too much to bear.

"His injuries, his wounds—they're all your fault," She declared coldly. "And if you refuse right now, you'll never be able to save him, for you'll die as well."

"Stop it! No... it's not true..." I screamed, the desperation in my voice mingling with uncontrollable sobs. My mind raced with images of Kaiser, smiling despite the odds, a beacon of hope in my otherwise cursed life. He was the person, who made me smile for the first time in years...

Then, as if cutting through the suffocating weight of my despair, she extended her hand toward me.

"Hold my hand," she commanded, her voice as chilling as the wind of a winter storm, "And you will unseal some of your instinctive powers. You can save him—just like he saved you with his life."

My breath caught in my throat. Kaiser’s name, spoken like a lifeline, shattered every doubt I had. My world had already begun to crack, but this… this was the moment that could break it entirely.

I stared at her outstretched hand, my own trembling at my sides. Could this power truly save him? Or would it only drag me into something even darker? My mind screamed warnings, urging me to step away, to refuse the unknown, to run from the abyss opening before me.

I knew deep down that saving billions for one was the right choice… even if it shattered my soul. Humanity didn’t deserve to be slaughtered, to be torn apart by a fate that was beyond their control. They didn’t deserve this fate, and yet, it was the path I was on.

Only I could stop it. Only I had the power to stop myself—to stop the monster I was becoming, the destruction I was destined to bring. If I didn’t act now, there would be no future left to save.

But my heart—my heart was already reaching for him.

I had only known Kaiser for a few hours, but it felt like a lifetime had passed in that brief span. In such a short time, he had given me everything. His trust, his care, his unwavering protection. He had taken care of my wounds, offered me warmth when I had nothing, and comforted me when the world felt like it was falling apart. And even when everything seemed lost, he risked his life to protect me, to ensure I wasn’t alone.

Each night, I cried alone in the darkness, drowning in despair and my misery. But he… he made me smile, made me laugh, and filled my heart with light in the bleakest of times. Even now, as tears welled up in my eyes at the memory, I could still feel the warmth of his love—a light of hope that refused to be engulfed in darkness.

I had been betrayed by the world—betrayed by everything I ever believed in. They had cast me aside, abandoned me when I needed them the most. Yet, despite all of that, I still wanted to save them. I still hoped that somewhere, deep within their hearts, there was good left to salvage.

But if it meant losing him—someone as kind, as loving as Kaiser—someone who had done more for me in a few hours than anyone had in my entire life… then I would burn the world to the ground without a second thought.

I would not lose him. Not now. Not ever.

And if the world had to pay the price for it, so be it. They had abandoned me once; now it was their turn to suffer the consequences. Kaiser had given me everything, and now, I would make sure I protected him, no matter the cost.

If this was the only way to bring him back, then what was there to fear?

With a shaky exhale, I reached forward. My fingers brushed against hers, ice-cold against my skin. And in that instant, I made my choice.

No matter the cost, I would not lose him.

As soon as I held her hand, a devilish smile played across her lips as she gazed intently into my eyes. The moment our skin touched, a dark, bloody aura exploded around me—spirals of shadow twisting and coiling in horrific circles. I could feel the power seeping into my veins, each pulse a hint of the transformation that was about to shatter every limit I once had.

Before I could process the onslaught of sensations, future me stepped back, her figure framed by the swirling darkness. I lifted my hands slowly, my trembling fingers searching my palms as the shadows moved over me.

Then it happened—a murderous red aura cascaded down from the sky like a storm of blood and fury. I looked upward, my eyes wide and unseeing as an immense pressure robbed me of all sensation. The fog that had once obscured my vision cleared in an instant, the red moon overhead soon began to crack and shatter into countless splintered pieces.

image [https://i.imgur.com/r9rM9sQ.png]

I turned my gaze back to my future self. There she stood, hands clasped behind her back, her smile unwavering and laced with a cruelty that sent shivers down my spine.

“This,” she pronounced with chilling clarity, “is just 1% percent of your total power. The rest must be achieved and earned by your own efforts. The path you've chosen... it is yours alone.” Her voice, cold and commanding, resonated in the cavern of my soul. “The True Queen of Curses.”

As her words faded, my consciousness began to slip away. I watched in horror as she started to deteriorate, her form scattering into a fine dust that mingled with the crumbling illusion of the world around me.

Suddenly, I was left alone in an empty, blinding white room. I clenched my fists so tightly that my knuckles turned white, hundreds of questions roaring in my mind—questions I couldn’t quite focus on.

Reality crashed down on me like a tidal wave as the image of Kaiser flooded my mind. In the real world, my dear friend lay unconscious on my back—wounded, bleeding, his life slipping away with each breath. The thought of him, the only person who had ever truly cared for me, ignited a burning resolve within me.

Memories of my past, the times I felt utterly worthless and hopeless, resurfaced in that moment. I remembered the loneliness, the isolation, the crushing belief that I was nothing more than a cursed soul, destined to be despised by everyone I ever encountered.

I had spent so many years believing I was unworthy of anything—unworthy of love, unworthy of peace, unworthy of life. Each night silently crying to myself. But Kaiser… Kaiser had shown me what kindness and love felt like. He had believed in me when no one else did, had given me hope when I had none left in me.

His trust, his kindness, his sacrifice—everything he had done for me, for us—was now slipping through my fingers, as fragile as the air in my lungs. I couldn’t let him die. I couldn’t let him suffer because of my failure. I couldn’t lose the only person who had ever cared.

With each painful breath, with each heartbeat that threatened to shatter me, I swore to myself—no matter the cost, no matter the pain—I would not lose him. Not now. Not ever.

Before meeting him, I was nameless—a nobody cursed as the "Queen of Curses," shunned and hated. Yet, he saw past the darkness. He gave me a name—Celia—out of pure, Love, not pity or mockery.

Anger surged through me as I recalled the threat: if I did not fight, if I did not harness this newfound power, he would die.

I couldn’t let that happen.

I glared into the blank white expanse, my eyes burning with murderous intent. With just a focused gaze, I felt the aura around me begin to ripple. The room trembled, then violently convulsed, shattering like fragile glass as I fell into the void beneath me.

I whispered fiercely to myself, "Now it’s time to face them all—Kiel, Levi, Ronan, and the Silent Executioner. I will save Kaiser. I will not be the weak, helpless soul I once was."

A surge of dark, overwhelming energy pulsed through me. I fell amidst the collapsing remnants of the illusion, every fiber of my being alight with a newfound ferocity. I was no longer the broken, despairing girl who once cried in the darkness alone. I will become the embodiment of destruction, and nothing could stop the path I was about to carve with my own hands.

I Screamed into the silence, the sound echoing off the shattered walls of my former self...

I am the Queen of Curses! And I will bring the world to its knees.