Far from the greenland.
Far from the merging field where two universes awkwardly coexisted—
A group stood in disciplined silence.
They were positioned in a crescent formation, cloaks dark and heavy, edges embroidered with a black insignia— a cross shape entangled by curling, tentacle-like lines.
Before them stood a man.
Tall.
Blonde hair falling neatly past his shoulders.
He wore attire reminiscent of royalty— layered fabrics of white and deep black, accented with silver threading that shimmered faintly under the sky.
When he turned—
His face was breathtakingly refined. Sharp jawline. Calm lips. Eyes that seemed to observe too much.
Heterochromia.
Left eye: pale silver-blue.
Right eye: darker— and inside it, faintly embedded within the iris itself, was the same clan symbol.
Not glowing.
Not active.
Just there.
A mark.
One of the kneeling members spoke respectfully.
"My lord."
The blonde man said nothing for several seconds.
He simply stared toward the distant direction of the greenland.
Then—
"Maintain observation."
His tone was composed. Gentle. Almost kind.
The group lowered their heads further.
None of them knew anything.
They were simply waiting.
For something.
---
Back at the Field
James and his summons returned.
Ark was sitting with the six teenagers— Eumie, Mhae, Ashley, Herro, Clark—
And Alex.
This was the first time Martis stood this close to them.
James noticed it too late.
Martis' gaze swept across the group lazily at first—
Then stopped.
Locked.
On Alex.
There was no warning.
No change in expression.
One blink—
And Martis moved.
He appeared directly in front of Alex and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing.
Everything happened in less than a second.
But the reaction—
Was not quiet.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Ark roared, lunging forward.
Ashley screamed.
Eumie gasped, covering her mouth.
Mhae instinctively grabbed Clark's arm.
Herro stepped forward but hesitated.
Alex choked as his feet kicked midair. "W–What—?! Put me down!"
Clark's voice cracked. "Are you insane?!"
James felt his heart slam violently against his ribs.
"Martis!"
His voice wasn't calm.
It wasn't composed.
It carried real fear.
"Put him down. NOW."
Martis' red eyes didn't leave Alex.
"Why does he have that?"
"That?!" Ark shouted. "Have what?! He's just a kid!"
Alex clawed at Martis' wrist, panic flooding his face. "I don't have anything!"
James stepped forward, aura flaring slightly without meaning to.
"I said. Put. Him. Down."
There was a split second where tension became something dangerous.
Then—
Martis released him.
Alex dropped, stumbling hard. Ark caught him before he hit the ground.
Ashley rushed over. "Alex, are you okay?!"
Alex's breathing was uneven. His hands trembled.
"I—I don't know what I did!"
Eumie's eyes were wet. "Why would he just grab him like that?!"
Mhae glared at Martis. "That's messed up!"
Clark stepped in front of Alex slightly, protective despite shaking legs.
James felt anger rising in his chest.
But he forced it down.
He activated his title.
[Title: Founder of Ashura]
[Effect: Can read the minds of only your clan members]
He focused on Martis.
For a brief moment—
A thought slipped through.
> "…why does this kid have the fragments of that thing…"
Fragments?
James' eyes sharpened.
"Martis," he said, quieter now, but heavy, "explain."
Martis didn't answer.
His face had returned to its usual indifference.
James pushed deeper with mind reading.
Static.
Just harsh, grating static like radio noise pressed against his brain.
He flinched.
He's resisting.
James switched to telepathy.
> "What are fragments?"
For a second—
It felt like Martis tried to respond.
Then—
Pain.
A violent pressure exploded inside James' head.
He staggered, gripping his temple.
"James?" Ark said quickly.
"I'm fine," James muttered through clenched teeth.
The pain intensified—
Like the system itself was censoring him.
Then through the distortion—
One sentence slipped through.
"It will appear on ■■■■■■■ Zone."
The name was erased.
Not blurred.
Not hidden.
Removed.
James inhaled sharply.
The pain vanished instantly.
Martis remained silent.
But this time—
His gaze wasn't hostile toward Alex.
It was wary.
Like someone who had seen something before.
James looked at Alex again.
The boy looked shaken. Confused. Hurt.
"Alex," James said gently, "have you felt anything strange recently? Any changes? Items? Skills?"
Alex shook his head rapidly. "No! I swear! I didn't do anything!"
Ark frowned. "What is going on?"
James didn't have an answer.
And that unsettled him more than anything.
---
John sat on the grass.
Gob stood nearby, hands in his pockets.
The sky was open. Quiet.
"You said you're a regressor," John repeated slowly. "What does that even mean?"
"It means," Gob replied calmly, "I have lived through this timeline. Many times."
John frowned. "Like… dying and restarting?"
"Yes."
A silence stretched between them.
John gave a small, awkward laugh. "That's insane."
Gob looked at him directly.
"In every timeline," Gob said, voice lower now, "you were with me."
John blinked. "With you?"
"You were my lover."
The wind seemed to pause.
John stared at him.
"…What?"
"In every life I went through," Gob continued steadily, "John Delgo stood beside me."
John let out a disbelieving laugh. "You're joking."
"I'm not."
John stood up abruptly.
"That's not funny."
Gob didn't move.
John's face shifted between confusion and something almost offended.
"We barely know each other."
"I know," Gob said.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It never did."
John ran a hand through his hair. "So in your past lives, I just… what? Fell in love with you?"
"Yes."
"And I don't remember any of it?"
"No."
John stared at him for a long time.
"…Why are you telling me this?"
Gob's expression, for the first time, cracked slightly.
"Because this time," he said quietly, "I don't know if it will happen again."
The field felt colder.
John didn't know what to say.
He didn't know whether to laugh.
Or feel unsettled.
Or feel strangely sad for a history he couldn't remember.