The weight of the voices lingered long after they had faded, but I wasn’t shaken—not in the way Godfrey or Kallus assumed. I clenched my fists, steadying the golden-crimson glow flickering across my hands, a sharp reminder of the power this world forced upon me.

“You still don’t get it,” I said, my voice edged with anger. “Those voices we hear during ascensions? They’re not random. They’re not divine. They’re people—normal people, sitting back, watching, and deciding whether we’re worth their time.”

Godfrey frowned, his golden armor catching the dim light of the clearing. “Karlos, you’re letting this consume you. Those voices are illusions—tests meant to harden your spirit during ascension. Nothing more.”

I let out a bitter laugh, the glow in my hands surging. “Tests? No, Godfrey. I know exactly what they are because I was one of them. Back in my world, we didn’t call them gods. We called them players. And all of this—your ascensions, your trials, your what ever else —none of it is divine. It’s a game.”

Kallus tilted his head, molten eyes narrowing, his interest clearly piqued. “So, what? They’re playing us like pawns? Moving us around for their amusement?”

“They don’t even care that much,” I said, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. “We’re just characters—stories they pick up and toss aside when they’re bored. The gods above? One of them’s the bastard who stole my laptop.”

“Your… laptop?” Kallus asked, his molten eyes dimming slightly. “What is a laptop? And why would a god need to steal one?”

My jaw clenched as I realized my mistake. What the hell am I doing? Backtrack. Just blame stress and hope they’re gullible. I forced a bitter laugh. “Forget it. Probably stress-induced delusions. The ascension must’ve scrambled my brain.”

Before they could press me further, a new voice broke the tension—a calm, measured tone that cut through the clearing like a blade. “He’s not wrong, but he’s not entirely right, either.”

All three of us turned to see a figure leaning casually against a tree at the edge of the clearing. He stepped into the light with deliberate grace, his tall, lean frame moving with unnatural ease. His silvery hair shimmered faintly, and his eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, matching the moonlit sheen of his simple, elegant clothes.

“I suppose this is where I introduce myself,” he said with an easy smile. “My name is Rain.”

Godfrey immediately tensed, his hand going to the hilt of his sword. “Who are you, and why are you here?”

Rain raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his smile unshaken. “Relax, knight. I’m not here to fight. Quite the opposite.” His gaze shifted to me, steady and unrelenting. “Karlos, I’ve been watching you for some time now. Waiting for the right moment to step in.”

“Watching?” I narrowed my eyes. “What are you, then? Another player?”

Rain chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Not quite. I don’t control this game—I’m just here to tip the scales when they start to tilt too far.”

Kallus snorted, crossing his arms. “Convenient timing, don’t you think? What exactly are you here for?”

Rain’s smile faltered slightly, his expression darkening. “I’m here because the stakes have been raised. The gods—the players—have called upon their greatest challenge yet: a dragon.”

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The clearing went utterly still.

“A dragon?” Godfrey repeated, his voice shaky. “You mean a real one?”

Rain nodded, his tone somber. “The realest thing you’ll ever face in this world.

Kallus’ smug demeanor faltered for a moment. “So this is their way of culling us, huh? Send in the big bad and see who’s left standing?”

““What’s everyone freaking out about?” I asked, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “How strong are dragons anyway? Is the dragon we’re facing any stronger than the one at the base of Abyss Mountain?”

I searched their faces, hoping for reassurance, but what I got instead made my chest tighten.

Rain’s expression turned sharp, almost curious. “Interesting question. I’d almost call it foresight if your little rant about being a god didn’t happen. But no, the dragon we’re facing and the Abyss Whelp are one and the same.”

I felt my breath catch as a realization struck me. “Whelp? So… the Nightmare of the Abyss is a baby?” My voice rose slightly, the disbelief ringing clear. “What the hell…”

Rain’s gaze remained steady, but the weight of his words pressed on me like a boulder.

“Karlos, if you’ve been holding back, now’s the time to stop. Also, turn on your mana sense—it’ll help.”

“Mana sense?” I repeated, frowning. “What the hell is—”

The words died in my throat as the golden-crimson glow in my hands surged again, flaring brighter and spreading like wildfire across my body. My head throbbed, a flood of sensations rushing in—powerful, overwhelming, and yet strangely familiar. It was like unlocking a memory I’d forgotten, a power buried deep within me that suddenly demanded recognition.

Rain studied me with a quiet intensity, his expression unreadable. “Looks like your ascension isn’t entirely complete,” he murmured, his calm tone returning.

I clenched my fists, the golden fire roaring to life around me, brighter and more furious than ever before. For the first time, I felt the weight of the power this world had thrust upon me. It wasn’t just a tool—it was alive, feral, and terrifying.

Rain’s expression darkened, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Karlos… you’ve played this game before. You know how it ends. The question is, will you survive it this time?”

Before I could respond, he took a deliberate step forward, his presence suddenly oppressive. The calm, approachable demeanor he’d carried moments ago seemed to melt away, replaced by something far more commanding.

“Let me reintroduce myself,” he said, his tone sharpening like a blade. “My name is Rain, as you all know.” He paused, letting the tension settle over us like a storm about to break. “But you can call me Reign.”

Reign’s aura shifted, an icy chill settling over the clearing like the first breath of winter. His silver hair seemed to dull slightly, its shimmering luster fading as the oppressive energy pressed against us.

“What the—” Kallus growled, taking an instinctive step back, molten eyes narrowing.

Godfrey, ever the stalwart knight, gripped the hilt of his sword, his golden armor flaring defensively. “What are you doing?” he demanded, though his voice betrayed an edge of uncertainty.

Reign ignored him, his expression unchanging as the air thickened. Then, with a sudden, violent surge, his aura exploded outward, slamming into us like a tidal wave.

The ground beneath us cracked and splintered, trees groaning under the pressure of the force. I staggered, golden flames instinctively rising around me in an attempt to shield myself from the onslaught. It was like standing in the heart of a storm, every fiber of my being screaming under the weight of his unleashed power.

Kallus dropped to one knee, his teeth gritted. “What is this?” he snarled, his molten glow flickering under the suffocating pressure.

Even Godfrey, ever composed, was forced to plant his sword into the ground to steady himself. His golden light flickered unevenly, struggling against the sheer magnitude of Reign’s presence. “He wasn’t lying…” Godfrey muttered, his voice low. “This is no ordinary being.”

As for me, I could barely keep my footing. The fire coursing through me fought against the crushing force, but it wasn’t enough—not even close. My mind raced, trying to comprehend how someone like this could exist in a world that supposedly revolved around me.

And then Reign spoke, his voice calm but carrying the weight of a thousand storms.

“This is what happens,” he began, stepping forward with deliberate, measured steps, “when someone stops playing by their rules. The gods you spoke of, Karlos—the players? They fear beings like me because I’m not their creation. I’m their mistake.”