The golden glow of Azaad's divine realm began to fade into a warm twilight. Rehan stood with arms crossed, eyeing Zaydan with a playful smirk.
"So," he asked, leaning casually on a summoned boulder, "what kind of skill are you going to ask for?"
Zaydan blinked, then looked down at his own hands. He clenched them slowly.
"I've been thinking," he said, stepping toward Azaad. "I don't want just any skill."
Azaad tilted his head, his eyes curious and full of divine intrigue. "Oh? Then what do you desire, Zaydan?"
Zaydan took a breath. "First, the justice skill. I've thought of a name. One that carries weight."
He turned, his voice steady. "It shall be called—Scale of Eternal Verdict."
Azaad raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A fitting name... what shall it do?"
Zaydan looked into his eyes. "It must be a divine skill given only to five individuals—myself, the Demon Lord, the Priest of the Holy Church, the King of All Races, and the Executioner. This skill will allow us to see the actions and intentions behind a person's crimes, what decisions they made, what pushed them—and what we would've done in their place."
Azaad listened in silence.
Zaydan continued, "When it is used, the people of the world will see everything—the crime, the trial, the thoughts of the accused. The judgment will then be passed by majority. If the wielder refuses the verdict and punishes unjustly, a portion of their lifespan will be taken."
Azaad's eyes widened slightly, and a slow smile formed. "Ah… So the cost of injustice is time itself. A dangerous yet beautiful concept. You wish to build a world not of blind laws, but of understanding... I like that."
Zaydan nodded. "Now, for my personal skill. I want something different. A hidden ability. One that holds every skill in this world—but sealed."
Rehan whistled, arms crossed. "Man wants the cheat code."
Zaydan grinned. "But with rules. This skill should unlock each ability only when I fulfill certain conditions—learn it, experience it, or earn it."
Azaad stroked his beard. "A grand idea… then it shall be called the Codex of All Realms. A legendary codex etched into your soul. As you grow, it will reveal knowledge and power beyond mortal limits—but only when deserved."
"And one more thing," Zaydan added. "A support skill. Something that gives me pure, complete understanding of anything I study. A skill for knowledge."
"Hmm..." Azaad's staff glowed as he tapped the ground. "Then let it be known as Book Wyrm—the dragon of study. It grants 100+1% comprehension of any concept, theory, or item you observe and study."
Rehan blinked. "100 plus one?"
"It's a magical world," Azaad said with a chuckle. "One percent more than perfection."
Suddenly, the air around them shimmered. Azaad looked at the sky, his smile fading slightly. "I cannot hold you here much longer. Time flows differently on this realm. You must begin your journey."
With a wave of his hand, a cloth pouch appeared and fell into Zaydan's hands. It jingled with weight.
"Fifty silver coins. Ten gold coins," Azaad said. "Use them wisely. They're not much, but enough for a start."
In a flash of golden light, the world shifted.
The divine realm disappeared.
They landed in a dense, mossy forest. Trees rose high above, sunlight filtering through thick branches. The air smelled of earth and fresh leaves. Birds chirped somewhere far off.
Zaydan stumbled, adjusting to the sudden change in scenery. "W-Where are we?"
"The other world," Rehan said, stretching. "Man… teleportation feels weird."
Zaydan turned to him—and froze. Rehan was now wearing a sleek dark cloak lined with silver embroidery, a leather vest, metal gauntlets, and on his side hung a curved blade pulsing faintly with elemental energy.
"You… you look like a knight," Zaydan muttered.
Rehan smirked. "A magical knight. My occupation. I chose a class that lets me use elemental magic and fight up close."
"You even got a sword…" Zaydan sighed. "So unfair."
Rehan patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll teach you. But first… let's check if there are any monsters or people nearby. Can't risk anyone learning our secrets."
He jogged ahead silently, scanning the trees.
Zaydan leaned against a tree, his thoughts racing. A new world. A new start.
After a few minutes, Rehan returned. "Clear. No monsters. No humans. Just birds and squirrels."
"Alright," Zaydan said. "Teach me the basics."
Rehan nodded. "We'll start with elemental control. I'll show you how to feel mana, guide it, and shape it into something useful."
Just as he began to explain, the scene shifted elsewhere—deep inside a towering cathedral of white stone, far to the north.
A high priest dressed in robes of gold and white was kneeling before a floating scroll. The scroll unfurled, glowing with divine light. Words formed:
"Scale of Eternal Verdict has been granted."
The priest's eyes widened in horror and awe. "The divine judgment… has awakened?"
Without a second thought, he ran down the hall, echoing footsteps alerting guards.
"To the Emperor!" he shouted. "A new era has begun!"