---
When the Heavens Crack
---
The sky bled.
What should have been a quiet dusk was marred by an unnatural hue—deep, searing crimson, as if the heavens themselves bore wounds too vast to be concealed. It was a slow, creeping corruption that seeped through the clouds, twisting their forms like writhing tendrils of a forgotten nightmare.
From atop a desolate cliff, Eden D. Souldrake stood motionless, his golden eyes reflecting the ominous display. His pristine white coat fluttered in the growing storm, his expression unreadable.
He had seen omens before.
Some were subtle, whispers hidden between the folds of time. Others were grand, earth-shattering events that marked the dawn of something monstrous.
This?
This was the kind that made the very fabric of reality shudder.
A wry smirk played on his lips. "It's beginning earlier than I expected."
---
The Whispered Warnings
Footsteps approached behind him—light, but measured. A presence that carried both tension and duty.
"You should have left already," the scarred woman's voice cut through the wind.
Eden did not turn. "You sound worried, Althea."
She scoffed. "Worry? No. I only wonder if you're truly as reckless as you pretend to be."
A chuckle escaped him. "Pretend?"
Althea's expression was set in stone, her piercing silver eyes scanning the horizon. Unlike the villagers, she did not look upon Eden with awe or reverence. She saw him for what he was—an anomaly, a force that neither belonged nor obeyed.
"The seal broke more than you thought, didn't it?" she asked.
Eden finally glanced at her. "Does it matter?"
"It does if you're wrong. If the Crimson Omen is what I think it is, then…" Her voice trailed off, but the weight of her words lingered.
He tilted his head. "Then what?"
She hesitated. Not out of fear, but because voicing the possibility would make it real. "Then something woke up that should have remained forgotten."
Eden grinned. "Isn't that exciting?"
Althea exhaled sharply, her hands tightening into fists. "You treat this like a game, but the people down there don't have the luxury of your 'excitement.'"
Eden remained silent, staring at the heavens. The crimson veins in the sky pulsed faintly, like something unseen was breathing beneath the firmament.
"You're afraid," he mused.
Althea's glare hardened. "I don't fear the unknown. I fear what it does to people like you."
For the first time, Eden's smirk faded.
---
The Silent Awakening
Far below, in the ruined chamber where the ancient monolith had stood, something stirred.
The stone that once bore the inscription of the sealed one had crumbled. Where chains had once been engraved, only jagged scars remained. And in the depths of those fractures, a pulse—slow, methodical, almost thoughtful.
It was not yet a roar.
Not yet a scream.
Just a whisper.
A whisper that should not have existed.
And yet, it did.
And it was listening.
---
Eden's Reflection
Eden tapped his temple lightly, as if testing something. His expression was thoughtful. "It's strange," he murmured.
Althea narrowed her eyes. "What is?"
"This feeling. It's… familiar."
She stiffened. "You recognize it?"
Eden didn't answer immediately. His golden eyes gleamed as he studied the sky once more.
It wasn't just an omen. It wasn't just a sign.
It was something more.
Something that, deep within the labyrinth of his mind, tugged at the remnants of memories he should not have had.
Deja vu.
But not the kind born of fleeting familiarity. This was something deeper. Something rooted in a past he had erased.
"Fascinating," he whispered.
---
The First Echo
As if in response to his words, the wind shifted.
A low hum reverberated through the land, almost imperceptible, yet undeniable.
Eden's lips curved upward.
Althea reached for her weapon instinctively. "What now?"
Eden turned to her, his smile widening. "Now? Now the real story begins."
The crimson sky pulsed.
And the first echo of the forgotten one called his name.
---
The First Ripple
---
A Silent Collapse
Deep beneath the surface of the ruined chamber, where the monolith had once stood as a silent warden, the air trembled.
A presence had awakened.
Not fully. Not yet.
But enough.
The stone beneath Eden's feet vibrated—a subtle, almost reluctant movement, like the earth itself was trying to suppress a shiver.
Althea felt it too. Her silver eyes darted downward, her stance shifting instinctively. "That wasn't the wind," she murmured.
Eden didn't answer immediately. He lifted his hand, fingers tracing the empty air as if sensing something unseen.
Then—crack.
A thin fracture ran along the distant valley floor, spreading like veins of black ink on a pristine canvas. It wasn't natural. It wasn't the slow erosion of time.
It was something else.
Something forcing its way through.
"It's testing the boundaries," Eden said softly, his voice tinged with curiosity.
Althea's grip on her weapon tightened. "We need to leave. Now."
He exhaled slowly. "No. We need to watch."
---
The Echo of a Forgotten Name
The world held its breath.
For a fleeting moment, everything was still. The wind ceased. The shifting sands froze mid-motion. Even the distant cries of the wild beasts were silenced, as if nature itself had been shackled by an unseen force.
Then—
A whisper.
It was not spoken aloud. It did not travel through air, nor did it follow the laws of sound. It was something deeper, something older.
It echoed directly in Eden's mind.
"So you are still here."
His breath hitched. A fragment of a memory—not his own, not fully—surfaced.
A flickering image. A ruined world. A shattered throne.
And a single presence standing amidst the wreckage, waiting for him.
Eden pressed his fingers against his temple, forcing the sensation down.
Althea noticed his reaction instantly. "What's wrong?"
He gave her a slow, deliberate smile. "I just remembered something unimportant."
A lie.
A necessary one.
Because if he spoke the name lingering at the edge of his thoughts, if he acknowledged it—
It would acknowledge him back.
---
The Chains of the Past
Far below, the ruins groaned.
The remaining fragments of the ancient seal began to crumble, their purpose long since eroded. They had been strong once, forged in an era when gods still walked and mortals held no dominion over fate.
Now, they were dust.
And the thing beneath?
It was waiting.
Not for release. Not for freedom.
But for him.
Eden exhaled, shaking his head as the sensation faded. "This is happening too soon."
Althea frowned. "You expected this?"
A chuckle. "I expect everything. The problem is whether or not I remember why."
She didn't like that answer. He could tell from the way her expression hardened, her instincts screaming at her to move, to fight, to do something—anything—other than stand here and listen to the world unravel.
But Eden?
He was patient.
Because he knew the truth.
This was not the first time he had stood here.
Not the first time he had felt this moment unfold.
Not the first time he had heard the whisper of a name he had long since forgotten.
And it wouldn't be the last.
---
The Mark of the Loop
The sensation of deja vu was stronger now.
It wasn't just familiarity. It was certainty.
Eden tilted his head, his golden eyes narrowing as he studied the crimson sky once more. He had been here before. He had stood here before. He had watched this unfold before.
But when?
How many times?
His thoughts drifted to the fragments of memories he had erased—the ones that refused to fully fade.
Each cycle, he started over. Each cycle, he rewrote his fate.
Yet, there were always traces. Always remnants.
And this was one of them.
The sky bled. The earth fractured. The voice called his name.
No matter what he changed, no matter how many times he tried to alter the course—
This moment always happened.
---
Althea's Unspoken Fear
She watched him carefully.
Eden was not a man who showed hesitation. He was reckless, arrogant, playful in the face of disaster.
But now?
Now he looked almost… calculating.
And that terrified her more than anything.
"Eden," she said, voice steady. "Tell me the truth. What are we dealing with?"
He turned to her, his usual smirk back in place. "An inconvenience."
Althea didn't look away. "You're lying."
His expression didn't change. "Of course I am."
She exhaled sharply. "Can it be stopped?"
Eden's smile deepened, but there was something in his gaze—something colder, sharper.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On whether or not I decide to let it."
---
The Crimson Pulse
Beneath them, in the depths of the ruined chamber, the whisper came again.
Louder this time.
More certain.
And this time, Eden didn't try to suppress it.
Because he knew the truth now.
He had been here before.
And each time, he had made the same choice.
But this time?
This time, he wanted to see what happened if he didn't.
---
The Chains of Fate
---
An Echo That Shouldn't Exist
"Eden."
It wasn't Althea's voice.
It wasn't anyone's voice.
Yet it was there, woven into the very fabric of reality—an undeniable presence pressing against the edges of his consciousness.
Eden did not react immediately. He had learned long ago that acknowledging the voice too soon only strengthened its grip.
But this time, something was different.
This time, the voice did not fade.
It lingered.
Waiting. Watching.
And Eden knew—deep down, buried beneath the layers of forgotten loops and rewritten timelines—he had spoken to it before.
---
The Shattered Seal
The cracks beneath them deepened.
The ancient ruins groaned in protest as the last remnants of the seal struggled to hold back whatever lay beneath. It wasn't a prison. Not in the traditional sense.
No, this was something worse.
A warning. A boundary meant to keep fools away.
And yet, he had crossed it.
Again.
Just like before.
Althea tightened her grip on her weapon. "Eden, we need to move—"
"Too late."
The air trembled.
A pulse of raw, unfiltered energy surged from the fracture in the ground, sending ripples through space itself. For a moment, the world flickered—reality struggling to stabilize.
And then—
Silence.
Not just the absence of sound. Not just a void of noise.
A complete and utter stillness.
As if the universe had stopped breathing.
Althea's eyes widened. "Eden—"
He raised a hand, silencing her.
Because he felt it now.
Something shifting. Something breaking free.
Something reaching for him.
---
A Name That Should Not Be Spoken
The whisper returned.
"You remember, don't you?"
Eden exhaled slowly. "No."
A lie.
A familiar one.
One he had told himself countless times before.
But this time, the voice did not fade.
It laughed.
"You always say that."
The weight of those words settled over him like an iron shroud. His fingers curled slightly, golden eyes narrowing as fragments of forgotten memories clawed at the edges of his mind.
Images flashed—too fast to fully grasp.
A ruined throne.
A dying world.
A single figure standing in the wreckage.
Watching.
Waiting.
For him.
Eden clenched his jaw. "I don't have time for riddles."
The whisper grew softer. "And yet, time is all you have left."
---
Althea's Growing Doubt
She watched Eden carefully.
This wasn't the first time she had seen him like this—detached, distant, as if listening to something only he could hear.
But this time, it felt different.
More deliberate.
More… personal.
Althea took a step closer. "Eden. Look at me."
He didn't.
She grabbed his wrist, forcing him to turn. "Whatever's happening, whatever you're hearing—don't let it control you."
Eden blinked.
For a moment, something flickered in his expression. Something uncertain.
But then, just as quickly, it was gone.
His usual smirk returned. "Worried about me?"
Althea frowned. "I'm serious."
"So am I."
She didn't believe him.
Because deep down, she knew—he wasn't afraid of the voice.
He was afraid of what he might remember if he listened to it.
---
The Unraveling Loop
The sky above them darkened.
The cracks in the earth pulsed with a deep crimson glow, pulsating in a rhythm that felt eerily familiar.
Eden exhaled.
It's starting again.
The same sequence. The same moment.
But why?
What was it about this exact point in time that he could never change?
He glanced down at his own hands. He had spent lifetimes mastering reality—bending it, breaking it, reshaping it to his will.
And yet, this?
This one moment, this one event—
It always happened.
No matter what he did.
No matter how many times he tried to alter it.
---
The Hidden Truth
The voice spoke again.
"You already know why."
Eden didn't answer.
Because he did.
Deep down, beneath the layers of erased memories and rewritten pasts—he knew.
This wasn't just fate.
This wasn't just a cycle.
It was a test.
A test he had failed.
Over.
And over.
And over again.
---
The Choice That Cannot Change
The ground beneath them cracked open.
A surge of raw energy erupted from the ruins, sending dust and debris flying. Althea took a defensive stance, her instincts screaming at her to move.
But Eden?
He didn't move.
He simply watched.
Because he had seen this moment before.
He had lived this moment before.
And he knew—no matter what he did, no matter what he chose—
This moment would always return.
The realization sent a shiver down his spine.
Because if even he—the one who could rewrite fate itself—
Could not escape this…
Then what did that mean?
---
The Moment That Always Returns
---
A Fractured Reality
The ruins trembled.
The air was thick with tension, laced with an otherworldly energy that twisted the space around them. The ground beneath Eden's feet cracked, pulsating with the same crimson glow that haunted his memories.
He knew this moment.
He had lived it before.
But why?
Why was this point in time an unchangeable constant in his existence?
He clenched his jaw. This was more than fate—more than some mere loop.
Someone was doing this to him.
And he intended to find out who.
---
The Voice's Challenge
The whisper returned, echoing within his mind.
"You hesitate."
Eden's golden eyes narrowed. "Because I've seen this before."
"Yet, you still do not understand."
He scoffed, tilting his head slightly. "Then enlighten me."
The voice chuckled, a sound that sent an eerie sensation crawling up his spine.
"Why would I? The answer has always been in front of you."
The ruins pulsed.
Eden's grip tightened. He was done playing games.
---
The Unbreakable Cycle
Althea was watching him.
She wasn't sure when it started, but the shift in Eden's demeanor was undeniable. His usual sharp confidence, the effortless arrogance that made him seem untouchable—
It was cracking.
She had seen him fight battles that would shatter planets. She had watched him stand alone against celestial beings, laughing in the face of death itself.
But this?
This was different.
It wasn't an enemy he could overpower with sheer will.
It was something deeper. Something personal.
And that terrified her.
"Eden."
Her voice barely reached him.
Because he was somewhere else now.
Not physically.
But mentally—lost in a space between time and memory.
---
Memories That Should Not Exist
Flashes of images burned through his mind.
A throne, shattered beyond repair.
A battlefield drenched in the blood of forgotten gods.
A woman's voice, distant yet painfully familiar.
"You are not ready."
Eden's breathing slowed.
He recognized that voice.
Not from this life.
Not from the countless loops before it.
But from something older. Something buried beneath the very foundation of his existence.
His pulse quickened.
He had spent lifetimes erasing his memories before every regression.
So why…
Why was this one resurfacing?
---
The Hidden Truth Beneath the Ruins
The cracks in the ruins deepened, and something shifted.
It wasn't just power leaking out anymore.
It was a presence.
Ancient. Familiar.
A force that should not exist in this timeline.
Eden exhaled slowly.
This is different.
Something had changed.
And then, it happened.
A hand—pale and unnervingly identical to his own—emerged from the glowing fracture in the earth.
And for the first time in countless lifetimes, Eden felt it.
A presence equal to his own.
---
The Enemy That Shouldn't Exist
Althea stepped back, eyes widening as the figure slowly rose from the abyss.
It wasn't human.
It wasn't a god.
It was Eden.
No—it was something wearing his face.
A perfect reflection, down to the golden irises and the smirk that sent a cold dread creeping down her spine.
Eden remained motionless.
Not out of fear.
But because he understood.
This was why he could never change this moment.
This was the truth hidden behind the loop.
His greatest enemy…
Was himself.
---
The Reflection Speaks
The duplicate tilted its head slightly.
"Finally figured it out, have you?"
Eden remained silent.
His mind was working faster than ever, analyzing every possible outcome. Every past attempt. Every failure.
His counterpart sighed. "You always take too long to accept reality."
Eden exhaled. "And you always talk too much."
The smirk widened.
"True. But then again, we both know how this ends, don't we?"
The ruins pulsed violently, and the energy around them twisted into a spiral of unstable force.
Althea gripped her weapon, stepping toward Eden. "What the hell is this?!"
Eden didn't answer.
Because the truth was unbearable.
No matter what he did—no matter how many times he tried to change fate—
This moment always returned.
And he never won.
---
The Battle That Has No Victor
---
The Echo of Countless Failures
Eden stood still.
His expression was unreadable, yet his mind was calculating faster than ever.
The man standing before him—his own reflection—wasn't just another opponent.
This was something far worse.
Something terrifying.
Because it wasn't just an imitation. It was him.
The golden eyes. The slight smirk of absolute confidence.
The air of dominance that made others bow before him.
Everything—down to the tiniest movement—was flawless.
And that meant only one thing.
This fight… could never be won.
---
A Cycle Beyond Reason
The Reflection cracked his neck, stepping forward lazily.
"So? What's your excuse this time?"
Eden narrowed his eyes. "Excuse?"
"Come on, don't play dumb. Every time we reach this point, you always have some grand excuse. 'It was fate's fault. The cycle is unfair. Someone is controlling me.' Blah, blah, blah."
The Reflection stopped a few feet away, tilting his head.
"You still don't get it, do you?"
Eden's fingers twitched. He had heard these words before.
But this time…
Something was different.
This time, his mind did not reject them.
And that was dangerous.
---
Althea's Realization
Althea could barely breathe.
She had seen Eden face celestial overlords and galactic tyrants with nothing but a smirk.
Yet now…
Now, there was something in his stance.
Something she had never seen before.
Hesitation.
She gripped her weapon, stepping forward. "Eden! What is this thing?!"
The Reflection turned toward her, golden eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Ah, the side character speaks."
Althea scowled. "You bastard—"
"No, seriously. Do you even understand what's happening here?"****"
Althea clenched her fists.
The Reflection leaned in slightly, whispering like a conspirator.
"You don't belong here."
She froze.
"You were never part of the original story."
Eden immediately stepped between them, eyes cold. "Enough."
The Reflection sighed, stretching his arms. "Fine, fine. I'll stop teasing your little attachment."
Althea's heart pounded.
The way he spoke…
It wasn't just arrogance.
It was certainty.
Like he knew something they didn't.
---
A Battle Unlike Any Other
Eden exhaled.
There was no avoiding this.
He had fought this battle countless times before.
And every single time—he had lost.
The Reflection chuckled. "Shall we begin?"
The ruins collapsed.
The air twisted.
And then—the world shattered.
---
Combat Beyond Reality
Eden moved first.
No hesitation. No testing.
Only killing intent.
His telekinetic blades tore through the air, forming an infinite barrage from every possible angle.
Impossible to dodge. Impossible to block.
Yet—
Clang!
The Reflection raised a single hand, stopping everything.
Not deflecting.
Stopping.
Time itself trembled.
Eden's golden eyes flickered. "As expected."
The Reflection smirked. "You already know why, don't you?"
Eden didn't answer.
Because he did.
This was not an opponent he could defeat by fighting harder.
This was himself.
Every attack he could think of—his opponent had already thought of it first.
Every strategy, every trick—all known, all countered before they even began.
This battle was a paradox.
And paradoxes have no conclusion.
---
The Breaking Point
Althea watched in horror.
The fight wasn't a clash of strength.
It was something far worse.
It was a game of absolute certainty.
Every punch, every strike—it was mirrored perfectly.
Neither side gaining an inch.
Neither side losing ground.
An eternal deadlock.
The Reflection yawned. "See? This is why I said you don't get it."
Eden ignored him, launching forward with a technique that defied logic—
Only to be met with the exact same technique.
The resulting impact tore the ruins apart.
Reality itself rippled.
But the battle remained the same.
No winner. No loser. No change.
Because that was the true nature of the loop.
---
The Revelation That Cannot Be Denied
The Reflection grinned.
And then, he whispered words that sent chills down Eden's spine.
"You don't want to win."
Eden's pupils dilated.
"That's why you never do."
The world pulsed violently.
The loop trembled.
Because—for the first time—
Eden hesitated.
And that single moment of doubt—
Was the most dangerous thing of all.
---
The Moment That Should Not Exist
---
A World Tearing Apart
The battle had reached a paradox.
The Reflection grinned, his golden eyes glimmering with infinite amusement.
Eden stood still, his breathing calm—but his mind screamed.
Every strike.
Every technique.
Every strategy.
Countered.
Not because his opponent was stronger.
But because—he was Eden himself.
---
The Truth of the Loop
"You don't want to win."
Those words still echoed inside Eden's skull.
He could reject them.
Deny them.
Laugh at them.
But deep down—a part of him understood.
And that understanding… was dangerous.
Because it meant—
The loop was not just a curse.
It was a choice.
His choice.
The Reflection chuckled. "Look at your face. That moment of realization is always priceless."
Eden clenched his fists. "You're saying I… did this to myself?"
"Ding ding ding! Took you long enough." The Reflection stretched lazily, stepping closer. "But the real question is—why?"
Eden's eyes narrowed.
Why…?
---
The Fear Buried Deep Within
Althea watched from the ruined battlefield, gripping her weapon so tightly her knuckles turned white.
She didn't understand the battle in front of her.
She didn't understand why Eden—the one who could defeat cosmic emperors with a smirk—was struggling.
But she knew one thing.
Something was wrong.
Horribly wrong.
The Reflection smiled at her. "Poor girl. You still think you matter in this story, don't you?"
Althea froze.
The Reflection turned back to Eden, sighing. "You keep bringing these attachments into your loops. They never change the outcome, but you always bring them along anyway."
Eden's voice was low. "Because they matter."
The Reflection's eyes gleamed.
"Do they?"
---
The Unbreakable Paradox
Eden moved first.
His body blurred, tearing through space itself.
His attacks no longer held hesitation—only raw, overwhelming destruction.
And yet—
Clang.
The Reflection countered effortlessly.
Not dodging.
Not blocking.
Matching him move for move.
Eden gritted his teeth. "Why… can't I…"
The Reflection smirked. "Because you are fighting yourself, idiot."
They clashed again.
Faster.
Deadlier.
More ruthless.
Yet nothing changed.
Because that was the true nature of the loop.
No matter how much stronger he became—
He would always be his own worst enemy.
---
The Moment That Should Not Exist
And then—
The Reflection stopped attacking.
Eden halted instinctively, his mind calculating a thousand possibilities.
But the Reflection only smiled.
"Go on. Kill me."
Eden's golden eyes narrowed. "What are you playing at?"
The Reflection tilted his head. "Isn't this what you always wanted?"
Eden didn't answer.
Because something was wrong.
The Reflection stepped forward. **"You never finish this fight. Not once. In every loop, we always reach this moment—the moment where you could end it all."
Eden clenched his fists.
"And yet, you never do."
A single drop of sweat rolled down Eden's temple.
Because it was true.
No matter how many times he had fought this battle—
He had never delivered the final blow.
Because something stopped him.
Something deep inside him refused.
But why?
---
The Choice That Ends It All
Althea's voice suddenly pierced the silence.
"Eden! Don't listen to him!"
The Reflection chuckled. "See? She's doing it again."
Eden ignored him.
His mind was racing.
Everything in him screamed that this was the moment.
That if he killed the Reflection here and now—
The loop would finally end.
His endless suffering.
His eternal cycle.
All of it—gone.
But his fingers refused to move.
The Reflection leaned in, whispering.
"Because deep down… you love the loop."
Eden's body froze.
His mind staggered.
Because those words—
They felt true.
And that realization…
Terrified him.
---
The Loop Continues… Or Does It?
Eden lowered his blade.
The Reflection smiled. "See? Just like always."
Althea stepped forward, shaking her head. "No… Eden, this isn't right. You're not…"
But her words trailed off.
Because Eden's eyes had changed.
Not in color.
Not in intensity.
But in understanding.
And for the first time…
Something shifted.
The Reflection's smirk faltered.
For the first time.
Eden exhaled. "No. I think I finally get it now."
The Reflection's golden eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"
Eden's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"I'm saying… you're not me."
The Reflection's pupils shrank.
And in that single instant—
The loop trembled.
The world fractured.
And then—
Everything collapsed.
---