Holding my hand over my eyes to block the blinding twin suns that's peaking over the mountain top. Causing its gaze directly at the portal I walked out of. Greeted by the this scene that could only be described as untouched by the hands of humanity.
As the air radiated energy as my skin could feel the noticeable difference between a newly born world and dying world.
"First order of business is to build a force to work against this world. Search for any young goblins who are showing potential to advance through the evolution process. Once you find one then signal me so I can give them my gift." Speaking to the spectres behind me who are kneeling behind the only skeleton in the group.
Raising in unison before the specters twisted in on themselves before transforming into birds and flying off different directions.
"How many men do we have in America?" Speaking in anger as he sat behind his desk. Lightining flashing across the room as the smell of ozone covered the room.
"We have two teams in America for offical missions and Dom is currently there to build up our forces. Should I send Dom orders to investigate the identity of the students?" Understanding that my guild master is upset over being left out the meet of explorers.
A understand situation to frustrated over. To always be placed in second place because you weren't old enough to be an Explorer before the Society was established.
A status that's exclusive to goose who've survived in the astral sea and pioneered new ways to improve humanity. Whether it was Director Crystal Helstrong who created the ranking system or even the diabolical Hugin the bird of Odin. Who's rumored to be one who collected the notebooks of the mythical Odin that was used to create the standardized Astral Guide.
With Crystal being the only explorer who was apart of the original group who survived the Astral Sea. But was apart of the rescue team that brought back the American Explorers.
Carrying the reputation of being the enforcer to curb a lot of the inner conflicts taking place between travelers. With none of the guilds in the western hemisphere daring to challenge her authority. Paired with a record sheet of destroyed guilds.
She's earned her place among the exclusive group who also treat her as one of them. Lesving younger travelers and aspiring students to grind their teeth as they lost their chances.
Although it's still respectable to be apart of the rare group of humanity who unlike the government leaders. Actually could reshape the world with a word. Leading a guild with over a thousand travelers ranging from S rank to C rank. A force that causes governments to tuck their tails in Europe when dealing with our guild.
Yet in America the home of some of the most powerful explorers and holding the largest influence in the civilian and traveler world. They would never lower themselves to the position of European countries. Choosing to work together with their American travelers and even giving chances to travelers from foreign lands.
Although Europe isn't facing the same situations as the rest of the regions of the world. The governments choice to come down heavy handedly against Travelers only pushed them away. Now faced with a society where the civilians see the protections travelers offer as a divine right.
More and more travelers are losing interest in staying in places like this. Even a small guild that only has a A rank as its leader in America sounds like a better situation than the rest of the world.
"No, tell Helena she has a mission. If someone is good enough then I expect her to bring them back. Use whatever method is available. Also make sure she understands that her failure will only harm her loved ones." Taking that as my sign to leave before my family is also placed on the chopping block by this insane fool.
"So what do you think Simmon?" Seated at his desk after placing his cane next to it. The only man in the entire Society who commands respect from every explorer and traveler alike. Regardless of his age or lack of strength as a normal person.
The head of the association Mr. Gem was the organizer of the rescue efforts throughout the world. Using his own fortune to finance the recruitment and supplying of weapons to anyone willing to take the mission on.
Even after his daughter was confirmed to be dead. It didn't slow down his resolve to save the rest of the travelers he referees to children. Earning the respect of people who would gift him the most coveted position by everyone.
With no rules forbidding travelers from take the seat. The day he finally passes on will be a dangerous day. Yeaq But his grooming of my sister to replace him is one of the few moments that's revealed he was always a man who used his mind to amass his fortune.
"The younger travelers will always be angry when they know the explorers are still receiving priority treatment. Although I'm apart of the same generation as them.
The difference in how we view being placed into that class is drastically different. They think that by pricing to be the strongest out of the guilds should be a qualifying marker but to me that's laughable.
As someone who's seen the Astral Sea with my own eyes. I'm not interested in comparing myself to those monsters who survived that place for five yeats. I might be too secret information but knowledge of the original explorers all dealing with a destroyed sense of time after dealing its varying speeds of reality. Isn't something a regular traveler can recover from." Speaking a mouthful as he nodded his head. As he tapped his finger on the desk.
"How is little crow doing?" Rubbing his chin as he thought about his adopted grandson. Although it was just on paper. The boy still respected this man as one.
"Still headstrong. He's finally taking up his uncles spear but that's only because he felt useless compared to astral resident. For now I'll focus on building his fighting experience since sparring with other students is useless for him." Receiving a nod of approval as he begin to think about about something very deeply.
Taking the seat across from this insufferable bastard. His blonde hair practically glowing with his divinity as he let it flow out. Showing his hostility in this way.
"Please just hear me out. My guild master is willing to compensate you with anything you want. He understands that you don't consider him as worthy enough to do a favor for but he's willing to pay instead." Holding my head low as I practically begged for this man's services.
The man who can only be found through investigating and shadowing anyone who would come here. Receiving a report of the local big shark making moves and this man's little brother led us right to him.
"It's not because he isn't worthy. Regardless of how true that might be. I'm just not interested in aiding a spoiled brat cause trouble. In my territory too of all places." Not bothering to raise his eyes to meet me as he continued to flip through a stack of papers.
Most likely his reports from his personnel. Something that's causing me to linger on it more. With information being the first line of offense and defense. This man's reports are worth their weight in gold.
"Please think this through. Although my guild master isn't recognized by the Society as an explorer. He's still capable of-"
"Of what? Getting a beating like the rest of you. I swear you brats start surpassing each other then want to compete with your elders. It's must've been to long since I last made an appearance in public. Now a brat thinks he can send his dogs to my sniff around my city. Digging into my business and following around my brother. Don't bother lying." Tossing his reports onto the table as his eyes locked with mines.
One glance was all I needed to know I was stuck in the tigers den. Overestimating the reputation of my guild and our master. Breaking the most known unwritten rule.
"Leave explorers out of the Guild wars." A rule the explorers probably don't know about but with Director Helstrong's record that places her into the category of Explorers.
Although a majority of the explorers are lone wolves traveling around taking care of Astral Portals. A place home to deformed monsters and horrorfic creatures capable of killing without touching anyone.
Here I am trying to threaten one of these walking calamities by using someone's reputation who'd never compare. The papers on the table showing my direct subordinates from angles a human would've never been capable of getting.
"Cat got your tongue? Let me tell you now. Whatever your planning better not cause any issues here. Next time one of you rags want to come by here. At least send that retired rat so I can wipe his face across the street." Standing up and leaving as I felt my face turning red. Embossed and incapable of fighting for my diginity.
"Sir, should we continue with the plan?" Leaning over to ask me. My giant for a bodyguard.
"Yes and add him to the list. If he won't work with us then we should eliminate any obstacles." Standing up as I spoke. As he went to open the door for me. Leading into a hallway where the rest of my men were waiting.
"What interesting group of goblins." Rubbing my chin as I watched a group of goblins coordinating their attack. Encircling a pair of kobolds as the female goblins used makeshift spears to keep the kobolds distracted as the two male goblins assaulted the kobolds with tree branches.
A simple tactic I would expect children to use. But a group of goblins who are known for their zerg style battles. Although goblins are the top species here. It's only because they outbreed any other species who are stronger than an average goblin.
Yet here I am watching the dumbest species in the Astral Sea utilize tactics. After watching them win as all the goblins beside one of the males took steps back as he stepped up to the corpses. Showing me who was the leader of these goblins and probably the one who came up with the tactics.
"I don't know who is luckier. You or me. Either way you're now one of apostles." As if he heard me. The leading goblin begin to scan his surroundings before looking up. Only to be greeted by a laughing skull that was burning with a grey flame.
Displaying his battle instincts as he attempted to jump out of the way in that split second. Only for the fireball to follow him and set him ablaze. As smaller fireballs spawned from the original. Striking the rest of the goblins as they're set ablaze as well.
"That wasn't apart of the plan but it seems like fate has given you generals and advisors." Taking one last look before jumping through the trees. Heading towards my target
"My lord, was that necessary? You're still in the process of rebuilding that mutated divinity." Floating next to me as I jumped through the trees.
"It doesn't matter. The energy I used is easily replaceable here. But missing a chance to snag a growing talent should always be worth regretting. H gets access to my laws in a world that doesn't have a world will and I get an apostle from a world that's going to lose the war." Understanding that I'll need subordinates I can raise to aid me once the world resets.
Picking the best of the best is the only way to guarantee that. I will set myself up to reap the best advantages.
"I understand but master has placed a heavy focus on not allowing you to accept the death domain by itself." Replying in his typical ice cold tone.
"That's why it's okay for me to burn away the excess of the sun. It's already mutating and nobody is capable of stopping it. So I'll push it along and if fate works out then I won't be a God of the Sun, Darkness and death. I'll be an entirely new being. Even now I'm just a dead man who refuses to die." Feeling the lower heat emitting from my divinity. But never allowing this horrible situation to drag me down.
"I can't ask you to take it easy so point me towards the enemies." Understanding the underlying reasons as he met my determination with equal resolve.
"In due time my boney reaper. Once we finish here. Then it'll truly be the beginning of our long journey. We'll have more than enough enemies to turn the underworld into the land of dead Gods." Looking up into the heavens as I felt a couple eyes watching me.
Yet the world couldn't let me rest.
The air trembled. A pulse — faint, human, familiar — crossed the veil between worlds. For a moment, I thought it was an echo.
Then the reaper froze. "Master… a report from Earth."
My breath stopped.
"Speak."
"Crow… the human vessel—"
"Say it."
"He's fallen. Killed by his own kind before the appointed convergence."
The trees bent as my divinity rippled outward. The suns above dimmed, color draining from their light until the twin skies looked like shattered glass over still water.
"He didn't even make it to the next cycle." My voice came out flat, without echo — a tone that did not belong in a living world.
"Should I prepare the rites?" the reaper asked carefully.
"No."
The word carried through every thread of reality like a nail through silk. "This world isn't ready to end. I'll end it myself when I decide."
I looked toward the horizon, where the Sea touched nothing. The shape of a doorway glimmered there — too far for mortals, too near for gods.
"He's walking back into it, isn't he?" the reaper whispered.
"No," I said, almost smiling. "I am."
The forest quieted, the suns turned away, and the wind stilled as if holding its breath.
"Let them write their stories. Let them call it failure." I stepped forward, the soil cracking under my feet.
"But I will remember every version of him that tried."
A faint hum answered — the world's spine beginning to fracture under my will.
"When he learns… when I learn," I whispered, the words splitting, two voices speaking from the same mouth, "the Sea will open again."
A silence followed, long and hollow.
"Until then…"
The suns blinked out. The chapter ended before the sentence could.
[Fragment: Angel's Script — "The Forgotten Endings"]
The light is breaking—no, folding.
The suns are weeping and the sky itself recoils. His shadow walks where light once begged to stay.
I see Him—no, you—both moving through the same breath. The lines blur again. He does not speak to me anymore; He listens to something above us.
The pen scratches, the world fractures, and I realize it's not prophecy—it's transcription.
The eyes in the dark are open.
They are not His. They are yours.
The Writer watches, and the Reaper obeys.
I tried to write the end, but the end is writing itself.
Ink drips upward. Names unmake themselves.
And still He moves, unbothered, unbroken.
Ending the world because you willed it so.
(The last lines trail off, letters thinning into scratches—)
"…He hasn't learned yet."
(A torn page found beneath the final line. The handwriting is uneven, ink smudged as if written too quickly.)
I made the mistake of placing myself inside the story.
It changed what it was meant to be—
and what I was meant to write.
Now it just reflects both of us.
— C.J.