——Phenomena...

According to Araxys, phenomena such as the Iron Lotus were not natural occurrences at all, but lingering influences he had deliberately left behind throughout civilizations in order to ensure humanity never advanced beyond a certain threshold.

They were restraints. Corrective mechanisms designed to suppress civilizations whenever they approached levels of growth deemed dangerous.

Because, quite terrifyingly enough, amongst all intelligent life Araxys had observed across countless civilizations, humans were by far the most adaptive species.

Not the strongest, wisest, or oldest, but unquestionably the most dangerous in terms of potential.

Humanity possessed an absurd capability to evolve under pressure, continuously adapting, innovating, and overcoming limitations at a pace so frightening that even Araxys itself had taken notice.

And according to its countless observations throughout cosmic history, that adaptability inevitably carried humanity toward a single destination if left unchecked.

Godhood.

Not metaphorically, but literally. Humans possessed the capability to eventually ascend beyond the framework of ordinary civilization and breach what Araxys referred to as the upper realm, a state of existence approaching the level of the Alephs themselves.

And that, more than anything else, was the problem.

Because the moment a civilization breached the upper realm, even partially, it created an opening. A gap. A fracture between realities that should have otherwise remained forever separated from one another.

And once such a fracture appeared, the Alephs would notice.

Araxys had witnessed it happen countless times throughout the existence of innumerable civilizations scattered across reality.

Entire worlds gradually evolved closer and closer toward Aleph-level existence, believing themselves to have achieved enlightenment, transcendence, or ultimate evolution, only to unknowingly expose themselves in the process.

They believed ascension was salvation, never realizing it was instead a signal.

And the moment that narrow gap finally opened, the Alephs descended.

Civilizations that once stood at the pinnacle of existence were erased almost instantly the moment the Alephs fully perceived them. Entire histories vanished. Reality itself became overwritten by the influence of entities so incomprehensibly vast that resistance itself became meaningless.

And afterward, nothing remained.

Not even memory itself.

That was why Araxys existed. Not specifically to protect humanity, nor out of compassion for mortal life, but to ensure civilizations never reached the threshold that would ultimately doom them all.

Because to Araxys, temporary destruction and forced regression were infinitely preferable compared to total annihilation under the gaze of the Alephs.

And most importantly, Araxys had to ensure these harsh mechanisms remained in place because, within this realm, there was nothing left anymore.

This world was not the first civilization Araxys had overseen. Nor was it the first realm forced into breaking in order to prevent humanity from reaching a catastrophic threshold.

Countless civilizations had already risen and disappeared before this one ever existed, all repeating the same cycle of growth, advancement, ascension, and eventual destruction.

And now, very little remained.

The realm humanity currently inhabited was no longer merely another world amongst many.

It was one of the last surviving spaces left untouched.

That was why Araxys could no longer afford failure.

If humanity breached the upper realm once more, if another civilization succeeded in ascending beyond the threshold Araxys desperately tried to suppress, then the resulting fracture would most likely expose this final surviving realm entirely to the Alephs.

And unlike the others, there would be no rebuilding afterward.

Because if even this realm fell, then Araxys itself would perish alongside it.

And perhaps that was the most horrifying realization of all.

The existence humanity feared as a calamity, a destroyer, and a cosmic overseer was itself cornered against extinction.

"So what exactly do you want me to do?"

As Zen posed the question, the void surrounding him subtly distorted once more.

Countless fractured stars flickered throughout the endless darkness while the overwhelming presence of Araxys continued to loom across reality itself.

——Allow me to descend.

"...?"

——Once my influence fully spreads throughout this realm, I will force myself into slumber before this realm reaches the threshold that attracts the Alephs’ gaze.

"...In other words, you’re a coward?"

Silence completely overtook the endless darkness.

The stars themselves stopped twinkling.

——Correct.

"...."

——I fear extinction.

"...."

——I fear the Alephs.

The surrounding darkness distorted again.

——And above all else, I fear witnessing the final surviving realm disappear just as all others before it already have.

Silence overtook the darkness once more afterward.

——Tell me, human.

The fractured stars slowly illuminated throughout the void once more.

——If survival itself becomes impossible without sacrifice... would preservation still be cowardice?

Zen let out a breath through his nose afterward.

"I think I’ve had enough of your metaphors."

——....

"So let me simplify this," Zen continued. "What you’re asking me to do is allow you to descend into this world, destroy enough civilization to force humanity into stagnation... then go back to sleep afterward?"

The surrounding darkness distorted again.

——You oversimplify it. But fundamentally, yes.

Zen clicked his tongue. "Tsk. And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

——A vessel. I must manifest through a vessel.

Zen’s brows slowly furrowed. "...Hold on."

For the first time since entering the void, genuine unease crossed his face.

"...By vessel, do you mean—"

——The same vessel you are currently using to converse with me.

The answer immediately caused Zen’s expression to darken.

Because the moment Araxys said those words, he understood exactly what it meant.

"There’s no way in hell I’m sacrificing my sister for something like this."

Zen’s gaze slowly lowered toward the unconscious figure of Melissa lying nearby within the void.

"You think I’m just going to hand her over because you showed me some cosmic horror story about civilizations falling? She’s my little sister, for god’s sake!"

The void remained silent for several moments afterward.

——I do not require her death.

Zen immediately froze.

The overwhelming darkness surrounding him subtly distorted again.

——A vessel is not inherently a sacrifice, but an anchor.

Silence briefly followed.

——Because of your actions, she has already been forced into compatibility.

Zen remained quiet while listening, though the hostility in his expression did not lessen in the slightest.

"...I understand that part," he said, his fists slowly clenching. "I know this is my fault... But goddamn it...!"

For the first time since entering the void, genuine frustration surfaced fully within his voice.

"You’d have to be completely insane if you think I’m willingly dragging Melissa into all of this!"

——You misunderstand.

"...."

——Your civilization no longer possesses the luxury of ideal choices, human.

Zen remained completely silent afterward.

For several moments, the only thing surrounding him was the endless darkness of the void and the flickering stars. His emotions had gotten the better of him for a moment there, but after calming down slightly, he slowly realized something disturbing.

Araxys had never once tried forcing him.

It merely continued presenting reality as it was.

Then, eventually, Zen let out a breath through his nose before speaking again.

"...You said it doesn’t require Melissa’s death, right?"

——Correct. She simply needs to serve as an anchor.

"...And what exactly does that mean?"

——An anchor stabilizes manifestation. Without one, my descent would destabilize reality itself.

"And with one?"

——The burden becomes localized.

The answer immediately caused Zen to narrow his eyes.

——Through her, I may descend while minimizing immediate collapse throughout the surrounding realm.

Zen slowly clenched his fists afterward.

"And what happens to Melissa afterward?"

Araxys remained silent slightly longer than usual. That silence alone immediately caused Zen’s expression to darken further.

"...Answer me."

And then, it answered.

——That outcome depends entirely upon how much influence my manifestation ultimately requires.

Zen immediately clicked his tongue afterward.

"So in other words... you don’t know."

——Correct.

Zen slowly dragged one hand down his face before letting out a tired sigh.

"...This is insane."

The void remained silent.

And perhaps worst of all, part of Zen already understood there might genuinely be no better alternative left anymore.

In the end, Zen chose to gamble.

There might genuinely be no better option left.

"Melissa... Jihyeon Noona... this is what’s going to happen..."

Zen began explaining everything Araxys had shown him. The Alephs. The upper realm. Civilizations ascending too far before ultimately being consumed. Araxys’s role throughout countless cycles of destruction and reconstruction.

Melissa’s compatibility as a vessel.

Or rather, an anchor.

The explanation itself took quite a while.

"I know how insane this sounds. And honestly..."

A bitter smile briefly appeared across his face.

"...I still want to punch that bastard in the face myself."

"I get it, Oppa. I’ll do it."

"...Melissa."

Surprisingly, Melissa was completely on board with it.

People were going to die otherwise.

And if there truly existed even the slightest possibility that she could help prevent that from happening, then she wanted to try.

"If it’s for everyone..." Melissa continued. "Then I’m willing to take the risk."

"...Are you sure?’

"You wouldn’t look this desperate unless things were really bad."

Strangely enough, that simple statement alone shattered whatever resistance Zen still had left far more effectively than all of Araxys’s explanations.

———!

It did not take long afterward.

The moment the ritual finally began, the entire void immediately distorted as overwhelming pressure erupted throughout existence itself.

The stars scattered across the darkness trembled while enormous cracks spread throughout reality, almost as though the world itself was struggling to withstand what was about to descend.

And then, Araxys arrived.

Unbeknownst to Zen, the existence he had been conversing with throughout the void did not merely descend as some abstract consciousness or invisible force.

Instead, it manifested itself into a form so impossibly massive that the very concept of scale itself almost lost meaning before it.

A black dragon, so incomprehensibly enormous that Zen could not even fully perceive its body in its entirety, no matter how far he looked into the darkness surrounding him.

Its existence alone eclipsed the flickering stars scattered throughout the void as though entire celestial bodies were nothing more than insignificant sparks beside it.

And its eyes... its enormous amethyst eyes ignited throughout the darkness like two burning purple suns.

The moment those eyes opened fully, the entire void immediately shook beneath an overwhelming pressure so vast that Zen instinctively felt his body locking up in terror.

Even reality itself appeared unstable before the dragon’s mere presence, the surrounding darkness continuously warping and collapsing as though existence itself struggled to contain Araxys’s manifestation properly.

Then, the dragon moved.

Rooooooar——!

Zen immediately felt a chill run down his spine as he fully understood the scale of the thing standing before him.

"...And this is supposed to be the weakest amongst them?"

The realization itself felt absurd.

This alone already existed on a scale humanity could never hope to properly oppose. Entire mountains would have looked insignificant before Araxys’s claws, while the mere pressure radiating from its existence alone already distorted reality itself beyond recognition.

And yet, according to Araxys, this was still considered amongst the weakest of the Aleph-class entities.

If something like this was already enough to overwhelm reality merely by existing... then what exactly were the Alephs like?

Civilizations began collapsing almost immediately after Araxys’s descent. Magical advancement slowed drastically. Countless supernatural phenomena emerged throughout the world in order to suppress humanity’s growth whenever it advanced too quickly.

Entire kingdoms turned inward while technological and magical development repeatedly hit invisible ceilings, no matter how desperately people tried to progress beyond them.

Araxys barely lifted a finger.

Yet humanity instinctively feared advancing further anyway.

And Zen, true to their agreement, did nothing, simply watching as nature took its course.

But then, a year passed.

"Hey. It’s been a year now. You said you were going to sleep. So give me back my sister."

——As I stated before... she will not die.

"...I know. So... it’s time you put an end to this... I promise you, I will summon you again when you need it—"

——Your sister will continue existing as my anchor through the reincarnation cycle.

"...You piece of shit bastard."

Araxys never lied to him.

As the entity itself stated, Melissa would not die.

But Araxys had never once promised it would ever return her either.

Because as long as Araxys continued existing within the world, Melissa’s soul would remain bound to it eternally as the anchor stabilizing its manifestation throughout reality itself.

She would continue reincarnating over and over throughout countless lifetimes, forever tied to Araxys’s existence without ever truly being free again.

And the worst part... was that Zen himself had agreed to it without fully understanding the price.

——Foolish human.

The void distorted.

——Do you still fail to see the gazes upon us?

At that moment, Araxys allowed him to see.

"Ukh..."

And Zen immediately regretted it.

The endless darkness surrounding reality itself slowly peeled apart as though some invisible veil had been momentarily lifted.

Beyond the stars, Zen finally saw what Araxys had been desperately trying to shield the world from this entire time.

Eyes.

Countless eyes watching.

Entities lurking throughout the cosmos beyond reality itself, their gazes fixed toward the realm hidden behind Araxys’s veil.

"....!"

Merely perceiving them for an instant immediately caused Zen’s thoughts to begin destabilizing as overwhelming nausea surged throughout his body.

"Ah..."

Zen instinctively stumbled backward.

The moment those eyes blinked even once, he immediately felt that unbearable sensation.

"...."

Araxys was right.

Its existence itself functioned as a veil.

A veil, a distortion, spread across reality, preventing those entities from properly perceiving humanity’s realm entirely. As long as Araxys remained present within the world, the Alephs could not fully see. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

They could not fully reach.

And most importantly, they could not touch.

The realization immediately caused Zen’s stomach to twist.

Because for the very first time, he truly understood why Araxys feared extinction so desperately.

And the moment Araxys disappeared...

"...."

Those eyes would finally open completely.

"...Fuck."

Even now, merely remembering the sensation of those incomprehensible entities gazing toward reality itself made his stomach twist.

The pressure behind their attention alone had nearly shattered his thoughts apart, despite Araxys’s veil still obscuring most of their perception.

If they ever fully noticed humanity... there would be nothing left.

"...."

Zen slowly clenched his fists afterward.

He genuinely no longer knew whether he had made the correct decision or the greatest mistake imaginable.

He had condemned his sister to an existence tied eternally to Araxys, allowed humanity to repeatedly fall and be forced into stagnation, and permitted civilizations to continuously destroy themselves before ever reaching true ascension.

Yet at the same time, humanity continued surviving because of it.

"...."

The void remained silent around him.

But Zen’s thoughts refused to settle.

Because deep down... he could not accept this outcome.

There had to be another way. A better alternative.

A future where humanity could continue progressing without attracting the Alephs. A way to sever the endless cycle of civilization advancing only to later fall before Araxys’s influence over and over again.

Because this... this could not continue forever...

The world itself could not endlessly repeat the same cycle of progression, suppression, destruction, reconstruction, then progression once more, like some broken machine trapped within an eternal loop.

Humanity deserved something better than merely surviving through forced stagnation and fear.

And perhaps most importantly... Melissa deserved better, too.

"...."

Slowly, Zen raised his head once more as a new thought surfaced within his mind.

A possibility.

What if humanity simply needed more time?

What if humanity could somehow prepare for it instead?

What if civilization could continue progressing while slowly learning how to resist the Alephs themselves rather than merely hiding forever under Araxys’s veil?

What if humanity were given enough time to eventually stand against those entities instead of endlessly repeating this cycle?

The thought itself sounded absurd.

And yet, Zen could not let it go.

Because for the very first time since witnessing the truth behind the Alephs, he realized something important.

Araxys’s solution was not victory.

It was merely survival. Temporary survival achieved through an absurd compromise. Humanity would continue existing, yes, but only as a civilization permanently restrained from ever truly advancing beyond a designated threshold.

And Zen could not accept that.

What if...

What if he created his own version of the reincarnation cycle instead?

Not one designed to anchor Araxys.

But one designed to preserve himself.

A system where his knowledge, memories, and existence itself could continue persisting throughout countless generations so he could continuously guide humanity’s growth from the shadows across eras.

A cycle where, instead of civilization repeatedly resetting from the beginning, someone would remain capable of carrying progress forward endlessly.

If humans truly were as adaptable as Araxys claimed... then what if humanity eventually could surpass even the Alephs themselves?

What if the problem was not humanity’s evolution... but simply the amount of time required to complete it safely?

If he preserved himself long enough...

If he continuously prepared civilization throughout countless eras...

If humanity slowly accumulated enough advancement across generations instead of losing everything every cycle...

Then perhaps... one day... humanity might finally become strong enough to stand against the Alephs themselves...

Was such a thing even possible?

Zen genuinely did not know.

If that were true, then perhaps humanity’s greatest weapon was not power itself, but its potential.

The ability to continuously adapt, evolve, and surpass limitations that should have otherwise remained absolute.

According to Araxys, humanity’s terrifying nature did not lie in what it currently was, but in what it could eventually become if given enough time to continue advancing uninterrupted.

And Zen... rather than accepting Araxys’s solution... had chosen to gamble everything on that possibility instead...

"...."

A chill slowly ran down Vanitas’s spine as he witnessed this turning point throughout the void.

Because even now... even in the present... Zen was still continuing to challenge this possibility.

"...I’ve been dancing in the palm of your hands this whole time, haven’t I?"