The atmosphere had changed drastically, provoked by a battle between beings connected to forces that shouldn't exist in this dimension.
That shapeless entity transformed into a pale beast, bearer of secrets impossible to comprehend, hidden deep within its being.
And the small, fragile human… underwent a different change.
Now he radiated a dark, dense, and suffocating aura. It wrapped around his body like bandages covering his wounds, shrouded his face, blocking his vision, and even granted him a new arm—replacing the one he had lost to the beast.
But this wasn't a gift or some sort of power; it was something else. It felt as if a shadow had taken control of the young man's body.
GRROOOOAAAAAAARRRRKK
The beast roared, trying to intimidate its opponent.
"….."
But he wasn't intimidated; he stood firm before the monster's actions.
Grrrrrrr
The beast seemed to understand that continuing this way would be a waste of time.
CRACK
So, it decided to change its strategy.
CRACK
It opened its mouth—so wide that cracking sounds began to echo from its jaw.
CRACK
Until finally, its skull split in two, and as if two massive doors had swung open, those parts of its face revealed its fangs—and a peculiar, radiant sphere.
It gleamed with an overwhelming intensity, its light stretching and illuminating every corner of the cave.
The temperature rose sharply; the place felt like an oven.
And for Robert, standing before that tiny sphere was no different from standing at the edge of an active volcano about to erupt.
Still, he didn't move a single muscle despite the imminent danger. Somehow, he knew that moving too soon would mean his death.
He had to wait—wait for the precise moment to act—because only then could he avoid what was coming.
Bzzzmmm
Suddenly, a sound like a buzzing hum came from deep within the creature's mouth.
Vrrrrrmmmm
It was followed by another noise that made the air vibrate all around.
Tzzzzzhhhh
Those strange sounds grew louder and more intense.
Seeing this, Robert leaned his body forward and bent his knees, his stance resembling that of a runner ready to take off.
SHHZZZOOOOOM!!!!
In an instant, a massive amount of energy burst from the creature's mouth, forming a thin beam of light shot straight toward Robert.
He reacted quickly, escaping at high speed out of the impact zone.
As he moved away, the beam obliterated the cave wall behind him along with the rocks and surrounding structures.
But something strange happened.
Despite the visible destruction caused by the light beam, there was no shockwave, no flying debris.
At the point of impact, a massive crater formed—no dust, no rubble, no remains—just emptiness, as if everything touched by that light had simply ceased to exist.
Bzzzmmm
There was no time to analyze this discovery. The pale beast turned toward Robert, preparing to attack again.
Vrrrrrmmmm
But this time, Robert didn't stop. He charged straight at the monster, gripping the remains of a massive sword with both hands.
SHHZZZOOOOOM!!!!
It fired again—but faster this time.
The attack looked different from the previous one; instead of a straight, thin beam, it was now like a storm of fire—a raging torrent that devoured everything in its path.
And Robert, even as the flames rushed toward him, didn't stop. He kept running straight into the danger.
Woooosshhh
Suddenly, the dark aura gathered around his left arm extended outward, taking the form of black tendrils dangling from his body.
As Robert sprinted at full speed toward the inferno, the tendrils coiled and intertwined around him, trying to shield him from the coming storm.
FWWWOOOOOSSSSHHH!!!!
Robert continued forward until he finally plunged into the flames.
Inside that fiery storm, the only thing he could feel was pain—but there were no burns, no heat.
Even so, every part of his body ached as if something unseen was tearing him apart.
It wasn't fire. It only looked like it.
***
How did I do that?
That was the question echoing inside my head.
I was moving faster than I ever thought possible, perceiving space in a completely new way.I could even see what was happening behind me without turning my head—it was like watching everything in third person.That would've been amazing… if only I had control over my own body.
Whoever—or whatever—was performing these feats, it wasn't me.I wasn't sure what had caused me to become a spectator in my own life, but maybe… maybe it came from that dark presence behind me.
When I looked forward, I could see the battle from countless angles, as if watching a movie on a massive screen.But when I turned around, there was only darkness. The glow from the "screen" barely lit a small area around me, and the further I walked, the deeper and heavier the shadows became.I could hardly make out anything.In fact… I think there were others here.I heard murmurs in the distance. It frightened me, but my attention kept returning to what was happening outside—to the fight against the monster, to what was happening to my body...
I was watching myself, running through a storm of fire as black tendrils shielded me from the flames. None of them could touch me, yet I could still feel pain searing through every inch of my body. Maybe that pain was why I was slowing down—why I felt my strength fading. I was about to fall, about to be consumed by the flames, and the worst part was… I couldn't do anything to stop it.
"Hello."
"!…?!"
A voice echoed from behind me, deep within the darkness. That voice… sounded familiar.
"Who's there?"
I asked, but no one answered.
"How have you been feeling lately?"
"Uh… I've been fine."
"That's good. I'm glad. You've been eating well, right? You know what happens when you eat too many Karsters."
"Yeah, I… I stopped eating them."
"Ha! Really? That's hard to believe. Ever since you were a kid, you were addicted to snacks. Your mom always said that if you could, you'd eat Karsters until you exploded."
"….."
I listened carefully to the voices echoing in that strange room. I knew those voices.
I knew exactly who they belonged to. And I even knew what they would say next—because I had already lived this moment. This was a memory… a phone call I once had with my father.
"Well… what else could I tell you, hmm…"
He was thinking about what to say next. Back then, I had already moved to Regulus City to enter a prestigious academy. We could only talk through calls that we made daily to keep in touch, though over time, those calls became less and less frequent.
"Your sister's doing great at school. She got perfect scores on all her exams. And Michael went to a training camp."
"A camp?"
"Yeah, a camp where he'll go through hellish training. He's preparing for next year."
Unlike me, everyone in my family was a superhuman.My parents were retired heroes—they left that life behind when they married, saved up money, and opened a small shop in a quiet mountain village, where they built a humble family. My older brother, Michael, wanted to follow in their footsteps, to become a hero someday. My little sister wasn't interested in any of that yet—she was still too young to worry about such things. But there was someone else… another member of our family.
"How's Lois?"
She was my twin—my older twin—by twelve seconds.
"She… she's doing great, really great…"
"I see… I'm glad."
"….."
"And you, son… how are you?"
"I already told you…"
"Robert."
"I'm serious."
I stepped deeper into the darkness. Only then could I hear him clearly. As I moved, I began to see another screen—just like the first one. It showed me, sitting on my bed in my apartment, phone pressed to my ear.
"Son, you worry me. Do you remember what I always tell you?"
"….."
"No matter where you are, if you're ever in trouble, I'll come right away to help you."
"....."
"Robert?!"
"Damn it, calm down, Dad!"
"W-what?!"
Suddenly, my tone changed. I wasn't sad anymore—I raised my voice, speaking firmly.
That surprised him, but it wasn't unusual for me back then.
"I'm just tired. I just moved, and I've been studying for hours. I'm dying inside!!"
"Ah… I see, hahaha. Well, don't overdo it. Take a break, you've earned it."
"Yeah, I will. I'll rest for a bit. Tell everyone I said hi."
"I will. Take care, son… I love you."
"I know. See you."
On the screen, I saw myself hang up without saying "I love you" back. Right after that, my expression sank again… back to that same sadness.
I remembered those days clearly. It hadn't been long since I learned how little time I had left to live. And I hadn't had the courage to tell my father the truth. Why didn't I?
Maybe I was afraid—afraid they'd pity me, that they'd look at me as something miserable. At least, that's what I told myself. But maybe… there was another reason.
"Ahh…"
Maybe… I should've told Dad that I loved him too. It was too late for those kinds of thoughts now. Besides, I had other things on my mind—a few questions I hoped this shadow beside me could answer. The first of them was:
"Why are you showing me this?"
I asked as I turned toward the towering, cloaked figure beside me—two meters tall, shrouded in darkness. It wore a cape that covered everything below its neck, and on its head rested a strange crown with three sharp spikes reaching toward the sky.
"I don't know."
Its voice was deep, every word followed by an echo.
"I don't even know why I'm doing all this."
"What do you mean?"
"Saving you."
"Saving me?"
"Yes. You, and the rest of the humans who inhabit this dimension."
"I don't know why. I forgot… a long time ago."
"…Are you the one controlling me? Are you the one fighting that monster?"
"Yes. I'm the one fighting. But you're not fighting a monster—it's a Ka'li."
Ka'li… right. I was supposed to find that thing. That was one of the cube's missions. Where did it go? It was with me when that Ka'li appeared, but then… nah, it doesn't matter now.
"…Hmm… Sorry, kid, but I think we're going to lose."
"What?!"
Shocked by the sudden confession, I turned toward the screen showing the battle—but all I saw was darkness.
There was no trail of light leading to it.
Maybe if I ran straight ahead, I'd see it again.
"Don't."
I was stopped.
"It's not that you're too far to see it—this place doesn't work normally. You're running toward another time, clinging to guilt and regret. And now… you're exactly where you want to be."
"...What does that mean?"
"It means no matter how far you run, you won't get anywhere… not while you're still holding onto this."
The shadow pointed toward the screen.
On it, I saw a place ravaged by disaster and destruction.
The surrounding buildings were in ruins, engulfed in flames that consumed entire streets, sending columns of smoke into the sky.
From a wider view, it looked like an earthquake—or some unnatural catastrophe—had struck.
But that wasn't the worst part.
The streets… were full of corpses.
People who had once walked peacefully through that mountain village were now piles of torn flesh, some mangled beyond recognition.
I knew that place.
It was the quiet village hidden in the mountains.
"ROB!"
A sudden scream snapped me back.
"Please! Help me!!"
That voice… wait… I remember this.
"Please!!"
I couldn't keep listening—not again.
My knees gave out. I fell to the floor, covering my face, my ears—I didn't want to see it again.
"ROBERT!!!"
I stayed there, trembling in fear, whispering under my breath:
"I'm sorry… Max."
"Now you see what I mean?"
"Why… why are you showing me this?"
"I'm not," the figure said. "Don't you get it yet?"
"…."
"This place only shows what you want to see. Everything here is under your control."
"Then… how do I get out of here?"
The figure was silent for a few seconds before locking eyes with me.
"Let it go."
"Let… it go?"
"Yes. That 'Max' you keep seeing—he's been dead for a long time. You were just a child."
"But I…"
"No buts. Don't you realize what you're doing to yourself?"
"Compared to others, your life has been comfortable. You're actually pretty lucky. It's time to take control and move forward."
"..."
"What's your name?" I asked.
Up close, I could see that the crown was fused into his head, and his eyes glowed white.
"I have no name," he said. "But many call me The Specter."
"Well then, Mr. Specter… thank you—for everything. I'll take it from here."
After thanking him, I stepped into the darkness.
"Robert."
He called out again as I walked away.
""Holding onto the past will destroy your future. But running from it… will only bring you misery."
"…."
"You're right. But I'm not running from the past. I'm just taking control of my life."
"And once again, thank you."
I turned, and began to run—faster and faster—without knowing where I was going.
***
I ran through a path where I couldn't tell which way led forward. I just kept running, hoping to find that guiding light. But it never appeared. Even so, I didn't stop.
Along the way, I stumbled over unseen obstacles, was startled by growls, and sometimes felt cold hands grab at my clothes.
But no matter what stood in my way, nothing could stop me.
I wanted to go back. I wanted to live. I wanted to finish the mission. I wanted to win. I wanted to see my father again—and tell him I was okay.
With that thought in mind, I kept going. I felt stronger, somehow, but I ignored it. I just had to find that light—I had to return.
—Now you're where you want to be.
I remembered the Specter's words.
"Where I want to be…"
I stopped. I'd never get out of here just by running.
I didn't know if it would work, but I tried anyway.
I closed my eyes and focused on where I wanted to be. But no matter how hard I tried… nothing changed. Still, I didn't give up.
Aun así, no me rendí. If everything here was in my mind, maybe concentrating on that thought would let me escape.
Griek… Griek…
Strange noises echoed around me, like moans. They were closing in.
Focus… focus… FOCUS!
I yelled inside my head, forcing myself to visualize the battle scene, but the sounds drew closer, making it hard to think.
Damn it—no.
I had to calm down. If I didn't, I'd never be able to focus. So I relaxed and breathed deeply.
GRIEEEEK… GRIEEEK
Where do I want to be…? That place—where is it?
As I thought those words, I also thought of my family. I had to go back to them. I had to win—for them. Not just for me. I had to keep fighting.
…..
....
...
"Rob…"
"!…!"
"Please… help me…"
"..."
"…I'm sorry, Max…"
***
"...?"
I did it…
Without realizing it, I'd made it. I went from total darkness to a world of flames. And pain—unbearable pain—rushed through every inch of my body.
The flames crushed against me, and yet, I wasn't burning. I was being shielded by those black tendrils from my left arm. All I could think was:
"Didn't I lose this arm?"
FFFFFOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
"Ughh!!!"
Forget it. I'll worry about that later. Right now, I have to end this. So once again—I ran like a madman.
Gathering every ounce of strength I had left, I charged forward despite the pain. I ran until my legs could no longer carry me, and when that happened—I jumped. As high and far as my body would allow.Before I knew it, I had broken through the flames—and there, in midair, I faced the Ka'li.
It was the first time I'd seen it up close. A true aberration of nature. But something about it stood out—that strange, radiant sphere. My earlier attacks had just passed through it, like hitting air. But what if I struck that orb? That was something I needed to find out.
Mis ataques anteriores la habían atravesado, como si golpeara el aire. Pero ¿y si golpeaba ese orbe? Era algo que necesitaba descubrir.
I raised the sword above my head, gripping it with both hands.
Vrrrrrmmmm.
Suddenly, a familiar sound vibrated through the air from the Ka'li's mouth. I recognized it instantly—it was about to fire. At this range, I wouldn't survive the blast. But it was too late for it. There was no way I'd lose now—because for the first time, I was ready to live.
Fueled by that thought, I brought the sword down. And it sliced cleanly through the glowing sphere.
GRROOK.
The Ka'li didn't even have time to react. By the time it did—I was already on the ground.
BOOOM!!!
Its head exploded, scattering its remains everywhere.
"…Ha."
GRROOOOAAAAAAAK!!!!!!!!!!
This made no sense. Its head was gone—but it was still moving, still writhing, still roaring.
GRRROOOAAAARRRRK!!!!
The Ka'li stumbled backward, toward a distant corner, far from the debris, and began slamming against the wall.
THOOOM!!!
THOOOOMM!!!
It hit it again and again until something finally broke—but it wasn't the wall. The space itself cracked open, tearing the fabric of reality. Beyond it was a dark void filled with countless lights that shimmered like stars. Without hesitation, the Ka'li dove into it—and the rift sealed shut behind him.
"...…ha..."
"......ha…."
".........haha."
"Hahaha… haha… ha… what the hell just happened?"
Too exhausted to move, I collapsed onto the floor, knowing I'd lose consciousness any moment.
"….."
And as I lay there, I wondered—was any of this real?
"Heh."
Maybe that didn't matter right now.
So I closed my eyes. I just wanted to rest. It had been… a very long day.