Donm:
"I will kill, kill, and kill everything in my path — even this world!" he roared at the top of his lungs, his voice ripping through the sky like thunder.
"Heaven and Earth, heed my call!"
His body trembled. Energy surged and flickered around him.
"I don't have enough energy," he thought. "So be it. I'll sacrifice everything — my flesh, my blood, my soul — and convert it into raw power. Even if the technique isn't complete…"
With death in his eyes and madness in his heart, he began to chant:
"Darkness covers the world, and fire lights it — they rise together, they fall together. In conflict, they find balance. Madness is born from balance. Balance becomes the dance."
He raised both arms to the shattered sky.
"So let my everything dance with this madness!"
"Final technique — Dance of Madness: Soul Burn of a Panther and Dragon!"
A voice called out from behind — sharp, accusing, desperate.
Vain:
"What are you doing?! You're going to destroy the world just because you're being executed?"
He stepped forward, fury and disbelief written all over his face.
"Innocent civilians will die because of your selfishness! Just accept your fate — die with dignity — and we'll spare your family!"
Donm: (laughing bitterly)
"You think I don't know?"
His eyes burned with rage.
"My family isn't in the Fornil prison chambers. They were executed long ago — by you."
He took a step forward, flames flickering beneath him.
"Don't speak to me of innocence. The civilians you claim to protect cheered while my family was slaughtered. They rejoiced as it was broadcast live. They're no different from the ones who held the blade."
He spat on the ground.
"So why should I spare them?"
Suddenly, the voice of authority echoed as the Council of Elders spoke in one unified voice, led by Vain.
Council of Elders & Vain:
"So… you knew."
Vain:
"Yes, we did it. We killed your family — not out of malice, but to protect the empire."
An elder stepped forward:
"You are a War God, Donm. A being powerful enough to shake the Three Realms. What happens if your power turns against us?"
Another voice followed:
"Your strength grew too great. We eliminated every threat. And now, you are the last."
Vain:
"So prove your loyalty. Die with honor. Take your own life, and grant peace to the empire. Let history remember you as a savior, not a monster."
Donm:
"I will prove my loyalty."
Elder: (relieved)
"You've made the right choice."
But Donm's eyes said otherwise.
Donm (thinking):
"I never wanted the throne. I never wanted this power. But if I must die… then let there be no throne. No people. No empire left to protect."
He raised one hand. His voice, steady as steel:
Donm:
"I will prove it… by committing suicide — with the world."
Elder: (panicking)
"What are you doing?! STOP HIM! ALL SOLDIERS — ACTIVATE THE FORMATION!"
Energy surged as soldiers scrambled into position.
But it was too late.
Donm whispered a single word — a word laced with sorrow, madness, and godly fury.
Donm:
"Break."
He made one final movement.
And the world exploded.
Donm opened his eyes.
"Am I reborn? Am I in the past… or the future?"
He couldn't tell.
He was under a fucking tree, in the middle of a forest, bleeding.
His vision was blurred. His body numb.
He was losing consciousness.
He was confused — it was still the same body, but younger.
He couldn't place this time in any of his previous memories.
But then… something clicked.
He remembered. He had been to this forest once — on a mission that lasted ten days.
There was a hut here, somewhere in the center of the forest.
Prebuilt. Abandoned. Hidden.
He had nearly died reaching it back then.
Now, he had to crawl.
His blood marked the ground as he dragged himself forward.
The forest was still wild — he knew what roamed here.
Beasts. Predators. Things that could kill him in a blink.
He met many wild animals the last time.
And almost didn't make it out.
But now… he had no choice.
He kept mumbling.
"I must survive this… I must survive… I don't know if this is the only rebirth chance I have — or if there are more."
"But this… this rebirth… it seems to have something to do with Graft."
His blood smeared against the roots and stones as he crawled forward. Every breath felt like fire.
"Just before I said 'break'… she threw something at me."
"Intentionally."
He squinted, trying to hold onto the memory.
"She cried… I saw it. She murmured something… I couldn't hear it fully, but—"
"Let me survive this first. I'll refresh my memories later."
His fingers dug into the earth.
"I must survive. I must survive. I must survive."
Again and again, like a dying mantra.
Through pain. Through darkness. Through the dragging weight of his broken body—
He kept crawling.
And eventually, he reached the center of the forest.
The abandoned hut stood before him — silent, forgotten… and waiting.