Opening his eyes into the darkness of the night, Jay immediately rose to his feet, summoning his sword in a swift, instinctive motion. His gaze darted in every direction, sharp and alert, searching for any sign of danger.
Nothing.
After a few tense seconds, he exhaled slowly.
The pale moonlight illuminated the surroundings, but it wasn't enough. It painted the world in faint silver, yet denied him clarity.
He still couldn't see properly.
From the top of the ridge, everything blurred into uncertainty. Shadows stretched unnaturally, distorting depth and distance.
Even so, he had to descend.
Staying there would only invite something worse.
Carefully, Jay began walking downhill. Each step was deliberate, controlled, cautious. His body was tense, muscles reacting to every uneven shift beneath his feet.
One mistake—
His foot slipped.
The ground gave way beneath him.
"—!"
Jay lost his balance instantly, his body collapsing forward as he rolled down the slope uncontrollably. Dirt and loose soil dragged him along until—
Crash!
His back slammed violently against a tree.
A sharp, overwhelming pain exploded through his entire body.
Damn… have I reached my limit? Seriously?
Fragments of his training flashed through his mind.
That… was just the bare minimum preparation…
A bitter, sarcastic laugh escaped his lips.
Slowly, painfully, Jay forced himself back to his feet. He leaned on his white sword for support, using it like a crutch as he resumed walking.
There was only one thought repeating in his mind now—
I'm tired… I'm tired…
Again and again.
And then came the questions.
Why?
Why was he going through this?
Did he deserve it?
"…?"
Jay frowned slightly, confused.
What had he done wrong?
Had he offended some god?
Were the sins of his past life still being repaid?
No.
In Jay's mind, those sins had already been paid.
…
Hours passed.
The night remained heavy, suffocating.
Then—
His vision caught something.
A woman.
An adult woman, running lightly ahead.
Her blonde hair swayed behind her, her blue dress dancing with each step. Her laughter echoed softly through the air.
It drew him in.
Without thinking, Jay let go of his sword.
His dull, lifeless eyes suddenly filled with something else—
Hope.
Emotion.
He began running after her.
…Desperately.
His breathing became ragged, but his legs—those same heavy legs—now felt light.
He reached out, stretching his arm, trying to grasp her.
"Runa!" he called out, his voice trembling. His eyes still looked dead, but they burned with longing. "Don't leave me alone again…"
But—
He couldn't touch her.
His hand passed through empty air.
He stumbled and fell face-first onto the ground.
"…ugh…"
Rolling onto his back, he stared at the sky above.
Stars.
Endless stars.
After a few moments—
She appeared again.
Standing within his view.
"Gabriel, don't just lie there all the time!" Runa said, her cheeks slightly puffed from the cold air.
She reached out, grabbing his arm, pulling him up.
"Come on… let's have fun!"
Gabriel's cheeks flushed faintly—so subtle it was almost imperceptible.
He wore a dark blue suit now, with a black dress shirt underneath, and his round glasses resting neatly on his face.
Runa pulled him along with cheerful energy.
The ground beneath his feet felt… different.
Not muddy. Not unstable.
Firm.
Alive.
His pupils widened as he took in the surroundings—
A vast field of green grass stretched endlessly. Flowers bloomed in every direction. Trees stood tall, their leaves vibrant, some dotted with faint glowing fungi.
A gentle breeze passed through, swaying Runa's blonde hair.
His heavy eyes…
Were light now.
It was as if he had never been tired.
As if everything before had been nothing but a dream.
The air—
Clean.
Fresh.
No trace of decay.
No blood.
No rot.
Just peace.
Without realizing it—
He smiled.
After so long…
He smiled.
"Was all of that… just a nightmare?"
Runa released his wrist and began running again, laughing as she moved ahead.
He chased after her.
Time seemed meaningless.
Eventually—
He lunged forward, catching her.
They both fell, rolling across the soft grass.
Laughter filled the air.
Both of them were breathless.
"The sky is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" Runa asked, turning her gaze toward him.
Gabriel replied without looking at her at first.
"Yes… the sky is beautiful, but…"
"But?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He turned to her.
Looking directly into her eyes.
"…it still doesn't compare to your beauty, Runa. I love you."
She froze for a moment, her cheeks turning red.
Then she covered her mouth and burst into laughter.
Gabriel simply watched her.
Huh? Why am I not… embarrassed? Or angry? At the very least I should feel something like that… but instead… I'm just happy seeing her smile.
"What was that? Hahaha! You sounded like a teenager trying to impress his girlfriend," Runa teased.
Still lying down, Gabriel looked up at the sky again.
Something felt off.
The stars—
Their positions…
The color—
"…The Wall."
His body jolted upward.
He turned quickly.
Runa was still there.
Normal.
Unharmed.
He sighed in relief.
"Uh… Gabriel…" Runa's voice trembled slightly.
Almost as if she were about to cry.
He looked at her—
—and his breath stopped.
Slowly…
She began to melt.
Her skin dripped away like wax, falling onto the grass.
"Runa—!"
She threw herself toward him—
—but something repelled her.
A blue figure stood between them.
Faceless.
Watching.
"...She was the cause of your ruin, Jay. And yet… you still love her? How amusing. How deeply attached you are."
"Move, Roh! I need to help her!"
Roh's presence radiated cold disdain.
"Help her? The one who destroyed your life?"
Time continued to pass.
Her arm—
Gone.
Evaporated.
"What… what is he talking about, Gabriel?"
"…"
"Ga—Gabriel?" she called, as her other arm began to disappear.
In Gabriel's mind—
Memories resurfaced.
Her screams.
Her cries.
The moment she saw him holding a body—
A corpse.
Click.
His vision shattered.
The grass vanished.
The warmth faded.
The pleasant air turned foul.
The scent of flowers twisted into rot.
Blood.
Decay.
Filth.
A cracking sound echoed—
Like glass breaking.
His suit dissolved into torn, filthy clothing.
His body, once upright—
Collapsed.
Mud clung to his skin.
A drop of water hit his head.
Rain.
He slowly rose.
His empty eyes stared to the side.
Roh looked at him—
With pity.
…
Jay turned his head away.
And walked.
Each step took him further from his original goal.
And closer to something else—
Something darker.
After hours of walking, the faint light of dawn began to appear.
Jay had survived another night.
Or had he?
As sunlight touched his face, he lowered his head.
"There's no way to survive in this hell… unless I abandon…"
…
"Besides… I am completely alone. Who would even notice if 'Jay' disappeared?"
Who?
"Just like before… I haven't changed. I failed at something so simple… to change."
A sound interrupted his thoughts.
Flesh tearing.
Being devoured.
Jay approached cautiously.
There—
A pale gray figure.
Wearing tattered noble clothing.
Feeding on the corpse of a deer-like animal.
The creature turned.
Its mouth was soaked in blood.
Sharp fangs exposed.
Jay recognized it immediately.
A vampire…
His reaction was minimal.
He didn't hide.
He stepped forward openly.
The vampire stared at him.
Then smiled.
A red, predatory smile.
Jay raised his hand, forming a gesture like holding a gun.
Ice began to form.
Slowly shaping into a blue pistol.
At the same time—
The vampire moved.
Gone in a single step.
Jay reacted instantly.
With his left hand, he summoned his white sword.
Veins pulsed faintly along its blade.
The vampire reappeared—
Punching toward him.
Clang!
Jay blocked with his sword.
Frost spread instantly, freezing the creature's hand.
The vampire's expression twisted.
At that moment—
The pistol was ready.
Jay pressed it against the creature's head.
"Goodbye."
His voice was cold.
Detached.
He pulled the trigger.
Bang.
The sound echoed across the land.
The body dropped.
Jay stared at it.
Just another corpse.
Like all the others.
"I'm back… I did what you wanted most, Roh."
He didn't even look at him.
Roh stood there, watching.
Serious.
"But… not like this."
A bead of sweat slid down his blue face.
"…"
Jay looked up at the sky.
Blue.
Bright.
Sunlight touching everything.
Tears streamed down his face.
"I… am completely alone."
His voice broke.
"Just… alone."
Just like in his past life—
Nothing had really changed.
Nothing.