11th April 2024
"Yes, but can't you at least tell me what kind of enemies I'll be facing? Are they cultists, secret organizations... or something else?"Evan's voice broke the stillness, calm yet laced with a gnawing curiosity. He was ready to depart—but some questions simply refused to let go.
"You misunderstand," One replied. "They are like you. Each realm has sent its challenger—what you call a chosen one—to vie for control of the Nexus. In this grand race, whoever gains its authority... rules everything."
"So it's like a story, huh? Protagonist versus antagonist," Evan mused aloud.
One gave a rare nod, seemingly satisfied with the analogy.
"Listen carefully," One said, a serious tone slipping in. "Don't die. If a powerful enemy appears, don't be ashamed to run. Survival matters more than pride. A coward who lives is better than a brave fool who dies."
Evan nodded in understanding, but just as One was preparing the ritual, Evan raised a hand.
"One last question."
"Tch. Make it quick," One replied, visibly irritated. "And make sure it's the last."
"I'm going to be transmigrated, right? What kind of family am I landing in? Rich? Middle-class? Poor? I've seen too many stories where the MC wakes up in some cringy setup—like living alone with a sister. I'd rather be a lone wolf. No ties. No weaknesses."
"Then... tell us your preference, and I'll search for it," One said after a moment, seeing the logic in the request.
"Let me transmigrate into an orphan. No friends, no attachments. A solitary life."
"A wealthy heir would give you more advantages," One offered.
Evan shook his head.
"Too obvious. The more people around me, the more leverage my enemies will have. In my previous lives, the people I loved always became liabilities. This time... I refuse to go through that again."
One hesitated but ultimately nodded. Evan's resolve was not something to argue with.
"And one more thing. Don't make me too handsome," Evan added. "Make me... plain. Unremarkable. No hero or villain should see me and think I'm their equal."
With those words, his figure began to glow as the teleportation activated. A final ripple of light, and Evan vanished—along with the entire divine plane. The ten thrones dissolved, returning to their true forms across the cosmos. Even their souls were exhausted from the journey.
But Evan didn't return to the infirmary—not yet.
He found himself elsewhere, deep within his mind.
There, he saw them—two men he'd glimpsed before. Now, they were whole. Standing proud.
"The third encounter begins," said the first man—the Swordsman.
"Yes," added the second—the Tamer. "His essence mirrors ours from the past. He carries our will."
Evan stepped forward. "Who are you really? And why didn't you appear earlier?"
"We can't," the Swordsman replied. "We are nothing more than remnants—wisps from the past. But we came to see you, the third and final soul."
"So... I'm your future, and you're my past?" Evan asked. The thought twisted his mind.
"Forget that," the Tamer said. "Evan, remember her. She was everything. We sacrificed everything to be with her—but destiny pulled us apart. Maybe now... you can change that."
Evan frowned. "Everyone keeps warning me about her. They say she led to our downfall."
Anger flared in both men.
"They lied," the Swordsman growled. "She gave her life for us. While others fled, she stayed. We loved her... and she died protecting us."
The Tamer nodded, pain shadowing his eyes."In my second life, I met her again. We shared so much... but when death came, I ran to save her. She begged me to leave, threatened to take her own life if I stayed. I obeyed. I survived. But by the time I tried to save her... it was too late."
He looked away. "I destroyed half the enemy army in rage. But I still died. Nexus rules don't show mercy. That's why we were sent back—to you, the third soul."
"She's not dead, Evan," the Swordsman said firmly. "You'll meet her again. Destiny owes us that much."
"Find her. No matter the cost," they said in unison as their forms began to dissolve, merging into him.
"You are the culmination of us all. The final creation."
"Don't mourn us... just win."
Their essence fully merged into him.
And then—
Evan's eyes snapped open.The sterile lights of the infirmary greeted him.
James sat nearby, watching over him. Rey was nowhere to be seen.
He was awake. He was fine.
But this Evan... was not the same as before.
This was a new beginning.The calm before the storm.
Author's Note:Hey readers, I see y'all reading and ghosting like you don't got keyboards 😤. Drop a comment, would ya? Let me know what you're thinking. Don't make me transmigrate into your screen to force a reply 💀.