The world around Baek Siheon blurred.
The street.
The fallen monster corpse.
Seraphina shouting his name.
All of it faded into a ghostly haze as Lilith's whisper coiled around his consciousness like a velvet rope.
"Siheon… you finally answered me."
Siheon felt a chill run down his spine. Her voice was too close—closer than his own heartbeat.
Seraphina grabbed his arm.
"Siheon! Stay with me. Don't let whatever this is pull you—"
Before she could finish, a sudden pulse erupted from Siheon's body, sending her sliding back across the cracked pavement.
"Seraphina!" Siheon tried to reach toward her, but his arm wouldn't move. His body felt frozen between worlds.
Because inside his head—
The two systems were in chaos.
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
This contact is a violation of Divine Protocol 001. Disconnect immediately!
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
You panicking cherub, this isn't a violation—this is a disaster.
She's remembering him. That means the seal is failing.
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
Then strengthen the seal!
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
I would if your holy programming hadn't wrapped half of it in divine duct tape!
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
Divine duct tape is a legitimate sealing technique!
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
It's weak! He's weak! We're all going to die weakly at this rate—
Siheon snapped.
"SHUT UP!"
Another shockwave blasted outward, cracking the earth beneath him as the systems fell silent.
Seraphina managed to stand, breathing heavily.
"Siheon… what is happening?"
He opened his mouth to answer—but then—
A soft fingertip touched his cheek.
Even though she stood in another realm, the touch felt real.
Siheon's blood turned to ice.
Lilith's form shimmered before him—only a projection, but too lifelike.
Her silver hair drifted as if underwater, her eyes glowing a deep demonic red.
She smiled.
Softly. Sadly.
"My Siheon… how long I have waited for you to wake up."
Siheon's breath hitched.
"Wake… up?"
Lilith lifted her hand. His vision warped as a dark sigil appeared behind her, pulsing in time with his heartbeat.
"You don't remember yet. Of course you don't. They stole everything from you."
His pupils constricted.
"Who… stole what?!"
Lilith's gaze trembled the tiniest bit, a crack in her cruel composure.
"The Heavens."
Siheon felt his chest twist painfully.
"Why would Heaven—"
Sudden System Override
A blinding flash erupted in Siheon's mind.
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
Emergency Protocol: Memory Interference Detected. Restricting access.
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
You idiot, don't block it! He needs to hear this!
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
Absolutely not. These memories are classified. He cannot access them. He must not.
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
You just don't want him to know your side betrayed him first—
Before it could finish—
A celestial spear of golden data impaled the Demonic System's voice.
The system screeched and flickered.
Lilith's Projection Strengthens
Lilith's smile twisted.
"Pathetic systems… always interrupting."
Her voice turned cold enough to freeze bone.
"Siheon. They sealed your past… because they fear it."
The air around him cracked like glass.
"Fear you."
Siheon staggered backward.
"Me? Why would Celestials—why would anyone—fear me?"
Lilith's eyes softened.
"Because you were never born human."
Seraphina, who had finally staggered close enough to hear, froze.
"Siheon… what does she mean?"
But Lilith continued:
"You were forged. Sculpted. Created at the beginning of the cosmic war. A being that both Heaven and Hell fought to claim."
The words echoed inside him like thunder.
Sculpted? Created?
Lilith slowly leaned close, whispering:
"You are the child of balance, Siheon. Half-light… half-shadow. You were meant to end the war that lasted since Lucifer fell."
Siheon's knees weakened.
"I… I don't—"
Lilith touched her own chest.
"And I—"
The bureau realm behind her shimmered violently, Eric's screams echoing faintly.
"I was the only one who loved you before they tore you away."
Siheon's heart pounded.
His breath shook.
His mind burned.
Seraphina stepped in, sword drawn, voice trembling.
"Siheon… don't listen to her. She's manipulating you."
Lilith's crimson gaze shifted to Seraphina.
A smile—not cruel, but amused.
"Ah. The little demon hunter."
Seraphina gritted her teeth.
"I'm warning you—"
"You're too young to warn me of anything, child."
Lilith waved a finger and Seraphina's sword trembled violently, nearly shattering.
Siheon lunged forward instinctively.
"STOP!"
Lilith paused.
Her eyes widened—not with fear, but with recognition.
"There… that tone."
She breathed out, her voice suddenly trembling.
"You truly are him… even after all the seals."
Siheon's head pounded, his vision warping.
"What… am I?"
Lilith pressed a hand to the projection's chest.
"You are Baek Siheon… the lost Balance Sovereign."
---
Both Systems Activate at Once
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
ABSOLUTE BLOCK: DO NOT PROCESS THAT TITLE.
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
Oh, NOW you panic? It's too late.
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
He is not allowed to remember. WE AGREED.
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
Agreed? You forced it on me!
---
Siheon screamed as thousands of sealed memories tried to surge forward—
—but then Lilith's projection flickered violently.
She turned sharply.
"Eric…?" she whispered.
The background behind her darkened.
Golden alarms flashed.
Celestial chains rose around her like a cage.
Someone was sealing her connection.
She growled.
"Siheon! Listen to me—don't trust the Heavens—don't trust—"
Her voice distorted.
"Don't trust… the one who smiles—"
Static devoured her final words.
And then—
Lilith vanished.
The world snapped back.
Silence swallowed the street.
Seraphina stared at Siheon, breathing hard.
"Siheon… what did she show you?"
He slowly stood.
Dark steam drifted from his fingertips.
His eyes flickered between gold and crimson.
He looked at Seraphina…
…but gave her an answer she never expected:
"I think… I'm not who I thought I was."