A second chance.
A chance to live again, leaving everything that once chained you behind.
A new name. A new face. A new family. A new world.
And more importantly—a new purpose.
Wouldn't that be a dream come true?
"O' fallen one," a divine voice resounded in the endless realm. "I, Goddess of Light, Aurora, have chosen you as my champion. I grant you the honor of saving this world and the endless glory that comes after."
Before him stood a divine being. Her golden hair cascaded down her waist like threads of sunlight, her sky-blue eyes shimmering with ethereal grace. A beautiful smile adorned her flawless face, and her voice carried an air of sanctity.
Yet, as she spoke, his heart was filled with something else entirely.
Oblivious to his inner feelings, she continued, "The novel Chronicles of the World's End—you must be familiar with it. You are the sole reader I have chosen to embark on this journey." Her voice carried unmistakable pride as she concluded, then asked, "Do you have any questions?"
She looked down at the man standing motionless before her. A moment passed, and an unspoken tension settled between them. Though he had yet to respond, her eyes flickered with something unreadable—perhaps distaste.
His hair, black as the night, fell to his shoulders. His pale skin looked as if it had never felt the sun's warmth. Though undeniably handsome, his body bore the marks of countless wounds and scars. Yet, what stood out the most were his eyes. Pitch-black, devoid of whites, they resembled endless pools of ink.
Aurora forced herself to remain composed. Despite her personal feelings, this man was the most suitable candidate. His potential was unparalleled.
Brushing aside her thoughts, she refocused. "I understand you must be in shock, but our time is limited. If you have questions, ask them now." Her voice softened, as if to ease his transition into her divine realm. After all, he had been summoned the moment he died.
But to her surprise, he didn't react with hesitation or confusion.
Instead, a bright smile spread across his face. His eyes closed briefly before he lunged forward, grasping her hands and shaking them repeatedly.
"O' dear Goddess of Light! I am honored—truly honored! To be chosen by the great Aurora herself, to be blessed with such a mission—I'm grateful, deeply grateful!"
His voice brimmed with enthusiasm, a genuine anticipation that caught even her off guard. But then, as if realizing the boldness of his actions, his expression twisted with panic. He quickly stepped back, raising his hands in surrender as his voice dropped to a whisper.
"I-I'm sorry! Truly sorry, I apologize! If I have offended you, it was never my intention. I couldn't contain my excitement. How could I? Being blessed with such an honor—I'm sorry, sorry, sorry—"
He repeated his apologies over and over, his voice trembling.
Aurora smirked slightly as this will only make things easier.
Her gaze flickered over his scarred body. It wasn't difficult to guess the kind of life he had lived for Being timid is what she needed
Closing the distance between them with slow, deliberate steps, she reached out and gently took his hands in hers. Her voice, now soft as a whisper, carried warmth.
"It's alright. There's nothing to apologize for," she reassured him. "You don't have to hide your emotions. With me, you are free to be yourself. I, Aurora, accept you as my champion."
His darkened expression brightened instantly, his lips curling into an innocent, almost childlike smile.
"Aurora—oh, no, no, no—" He stammered, his face flushing with embarrassment.
But before he could finish, she cut in smoothly. "Didn't I tell you? It's alright. You may call me by my name—Aurora."
Though her voice remained gentle, her eyes betrayed her true feelings. How repulsive. A mere mortal daring to speak her name. But if this small concession was enough to gain his trust, then it was a price she was willing to pay.
He coughed awkwardly before mustering the courage to speak again.
"Aur—Aurora… Can you tell me more about my honored mission?"
She responded without hesitation
"In this tainted world, my blessed Alex Lionheart—though truly capable—failed to save it," Aurora's voice rang through the divine realm, steady yet tinged with something almost fragile. "His innocence blinded him. Betrayal shattered him. And the loss of his dearest friend, Edward… that was the tragedy that broke him."
She fell silent.
Her gaze drifted downward, fingers tightening ever so slightly at his hand. For a fleeting moment, hesitation clouded her features. Then, as if forcing herself past the weight of unspoken thoughts, she lifted her eyes once more, meeting his unreadable gaze
"You," she murmured, her voice now carrying an almost unbearable melancholy. "You, of all people, must understand the cruelty of such a world."
She paused for a moment as if to summon the courage to speak once again
"I want you to save Alex," she continued, her tone firm, yet an unspoken plea was evident. "I want you to guide him. To ensure his growth. To become the one thing he lost—his best friend, Edward."
Her words hung between them, heavy, unshakable.
"And when the time comes…" A shift in her expression. A whisper of something colder lurking beneath the sorrow. "You must do what is necessary to awaken his true power."
The silence stretched, thick with expectation.
Aurora watched him carefully, sure of his answer before he could even form the words. After all, someone like him—someone who had already suffered, who had already known the cruelty of loss—would never allow another to endure the same fate. That was the nature of the broken and the foolishness lying beneath the pain and she would use of that nature
Facing her directly, he smiled—a pure, untainted smile—yet something about it felt too bright, too sharp, out of place
"Magnificent," he murmured, voice brimming with an eerie enthusiasm. "Utterly magnificent!"
Then, without warning, he stood and began to clap. Once. Twice. Again and again, the sound echoing through the space.
"Oh, how fascinating!" His voice lilted with glee as he turned to her. "Aurora, this time, I am truly grateful—I truly mean it!"
His hands shot into the air, his body light with energy as he bounced on his heels. "Yay!" he cheered and cheered
Aurora stiffened. This… wasn't what she had expected. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face as she searched for words, but none came.
He moved then, fluid and unhurried, circling her with deliberate, graceful steps. His movements were measured, almost like a dance, as his voice rang with uncontainable excitement.
"What an honor!" he marveled, spreading his arms wide "What a purpose you have bestowed upon me! Hahaha!"
He laughed. And laughed.
And then—
"Ah, to be cannon fodder for your precious hero," he mused, his tone shifting, thinning. The enthusiasm bled out, his voice growing quieter, hollower, until it rang empty. "The one to do your bidding. To play the part so carefully carved out for him."
The air grew heavy.
Aurora's lips parted, but before she could speak, he was in front of her. Close. Too close.
His hand lifted, fingers barely grazing her chin as he tilted her head up, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Slowly, deliberately, he opened his abyssal eyes two pools of darkness , darker than the deepest night, devoid of reflection,devoid of light, lifeless as death itself
"Such an incompetent god," A slow smirk curled his lips."Falling for the oldest trick in the book."