Baith lunged with all his might, grabbing Kim and trying to pin him to the ground.
"Kim! No!"
"Don't use your power... you must calm down!"
But—
Kim's eyes… they weren't his eyes anymore.
They were something else.
Baith screamed as he pressed down on him: "Hold on! Rage blinds the eyes! Hold on!"
But Kim exploded.
"Get away from me!"
"Don't you look at Nir?!"
"Don't you care?!"
"I— I—"
His voice cracked.
"I am an omen of misfortune to everyone who comes near me!"
"And you, Orion..."
"Prepare yourself for what is coming!"
Kim surged forward, throwing Baith aside.
His body began to crack.
Not with wounds... but with gates.
Darkness leaked from within him. Black souls rushed out as if they had been imprisoned for eons.
His right hand transformed completely—a dark claw, fused with fire.
A monster... risen from Hell.
At that moment—
Nir screamed with everything he had left: "Don't do it!"
"Please, Kim!"
"I'm okay!"
"If I die now... my death will have no meaning, you fool!"
Kim turned half his face away from him.
He reached out toward Orion.
He said only one sentence:
"Orion..."
"I am not Chaos."
"I am Doom."
The blast erupted from his hand.
A dark light... radiant... final.
Nothing remained of Orion.
The last thing the Ruler heard was: "I am Doom." A variable Orion had never factored into his calculations.
—
Nir was crawling, his eyes searching for Kim.
Kim was looking forward... but he saw only Nir.
When he turned to him—his face was terrifying.
Black veins. One eye bleeding.
Nir was afraid. He tried to speak, to do something.
Kim approached. Nir thought he would carry him.
But—Kim used his eye.
Time did not move. Nothing.
Inside Kim's mind: What do I do? What do I do? If only I hadn't been late... Damn it...
Nir collapsed, gasping.
Kim rushed to him instantly. "I'm here... don't be afraid, I will find a solution."
He moved his fingers.
Eclipse Field.
Nothing. It failed.
Kim's eyes widened: "No... no... no... not now!"
He tried once. Failed.
Twice. Ten times.
Then—a window appeared.
[Skill Error]
[Skill currently unavailable]
He screamed: "How?!"
"It's my old skill!"
"Not now!"
He searched frantically through his Inventory... for any skill or item to heal him.
It was empty of hope.
Except for one thing: A Skill Upgrade Ticket.
He hesitated. Then—he tried to use it on his healing skill, Cloak of Fire, but...
He gambled. He pressed it.
[Upgraded: Eclipse Field]
[Due to lack of stats—Evolved to: Infinite Dimension]
[Description: Do you feel the world does not understand you? It doesn't matter. Make them taste the pain... in your world.]
[Duration: 30 minutes. Afterward... every nightmare becomes reality.]
[Do you wish to activate now?]
Kim smiled bitterly. "Even fate curses me..."
He fell to his knees.
A scream. Crying. Pain.
A sound that tore through the village.
Baith tried. Incantations. Spells.
All were temporary.
Nir woke for a few moments.
He took Kim's hand.
A white light emanated from him.
Kim stared: "What are you doing...?"
Nir smiled. "You fool..."
"Every time..."
"You prove you are greater than what is in my heart."
"Tell me..."
"Why?"
The light flickered out.
Nir coughed.
Kim held him tightly. He wept.
Nir whispered: "The days with you..."
"Were the happiest moments of my life."
"I wished for a loyal companion..."
"And I found two."
Baith was weeping behind them.
Kim said in confusion: "What are you saying?"
Nir touched his face, gazing at him.
"This is your true face..."
"You are beautiful, Kim."
Then he turned to Baith: "I wasn't wrong, was I?"
Baith shook his head, sobbing: "Never..."
Nir said: "Do you know my skill?"
Kim: "No."
Nir smiled sadly: "My power... is to absorb errors and sorrow."
"In exchange... for my life."
Silence.
Kim looked at his hand.
It had returned to normal. The darkness had vanished.
His face... was back to the way it was.
His tears fell.
Nir whispered: "Are we friends, Kim...?"
Kim nodded.
Nir smiled.
—
And there...
Kim knew.
That true Doom...
Was not the power.
It was the price.