Birth of Dark — Chapter 5: Flute of Eternal Sleep

Record of Insanity from every Regression

Hey! Hey! I am the Great Vortex. Or, you can at best call me, 'One who shall be...' hm. I haven't come up with a catchy title yet. Anyways, a God can't just make up his title on a whim, can he? Although I am not a God. And there may be a lot of time before I become a God. Hehe, but trust me, one day I will be one and order the Angels beneath me to write me titles and songs. Anyway, you little one, the one reading this. Right now, how old are you, 13 or 14? Maybe younger, but not too old. I can estimate that by the nature of 'Blessings.'

Hehe. Do you know what 'Blessings' really are? Not the widely spread knowledge but the absolute truth. Probably not. After all, only a few know, as such knowledge is not easily obtainable after all. But I, being the Great Vortex, found out everything.

Weird, even while writing this, I feel a disarray in Fate. It means my hunch is correct. You see, I am currently on my 7th Regression. 7th, can you imagine that? I have lived for over 500 years. Good days, I must say. Still, I can sense my 'Fate Of Regression' being stolen. The amount is so minuscule that it feels negligible.

How dare someone do this? Hehe, but I am the great Vortex. Of course, I would have one hundred contingency plans. I know, a day will come. I do not know when, where, or how it will happen, but my 'Fate Of Regression' would be stolen; someone capable of doing such a thing would, of course, either be someone at a level higher than me, or someone who's a 'Route' above me.

What could be a 'Route' above Regressor? I haven't found out yet, but I feel there's still time. But what I do know is whoever steals my Fate won't use it. Why? Because if they did, they would go mad, of course!

They will probably bestow in it an empty vessel, in my opinion. And I know you are that empty vessel, little boy. Have you found out about it yet? You cannot die! Isn't that great! Don't you feel like all-powerful? You cannot die at all! The moment you are about to end up dead, you return to the time of 'Singularity.'

Regarding that, please refrain from researching the concept of 'Singularity' too extensively, okay? At least until you are strong enough. At least at the level of an 'Angel.' I won't explain why. I am not saying this because I care, hehe. I hope you get trapped in a Time Paradox. But if that happens, then time will come to a standstill; in other words, in a way, you will destroy the world. Maybe avoid doing that.

If that happens, I won't be able to revive. Yes, you heard right! I will revive. Also, within 10 years of my death. How? Of course, I am not stupid enough to tell you. But why would I even inform you of my revival? Maybe it's part of my grand plan, or perhaps it's just to give you anxiety?

Now, then, little boy. You have two choices. Have patience, wait for 10 years. I will then come back and take back what belonged to me. Second option, kill yourself every time before I revive. But how long will you be able to maintain that? 10 times? 20 times? 2000 times? I bet your mind will break even before the 5th or 6th Regression. People often don't realize the kind of mental fortitude required to be a successful Regressor. Not everyone can be like me -- the Great Vortex.

As for the one who stole my ability, I have a contingency for that. I know many ways to buy time. I am sure the vessel, capable of holding my 'Fate of Regression,' would have some resonance with Fate. In other words, an 'Anomaly'. Luckily for me, I can detect 'Anomalies.' I will scour the world for all those capable of producing an 'Anomaly in Fate' and kill them. This way, I can buy time, and by the time I reach the 10th Regression, I feel I will have found ways to deal with the one who's stealing my 'Fate of Regression.'

Hehe, my death's inevitable, but so is my revival. This is the story I will write. Hehe, little boy, I'm looking forward to meeting you. Oh, in case you choose the third option. Fighting and resisting me? Hehe, don't bother. It doesn't matter. You will lose. Why? Because I am the Great Vortex. Hehehe.

PS: Why is this notebook called 'Record of Insanity from every Regression' when it does not contain any records and just me blabbing and threatening a young boy? The answer is because -- I am the Great Vortex and I like catchy titles.

◈◈◈

"Vortex." So that's the name of the man who killed my parents. I indeed cannot die. I tried many times. Who was the one who killed Vortex and granted me 'Fate of Regression'?

The point when I held my dead parents' arms - that must be the singularity. That's where I will revive every time I die.

.

"Now then, what do I do?'

First, I carried my parents' corpses using vines and entered the world of black and white. My power of 'Color' felt advanced after I revived. I left the house, headed for the cliff where my sister was buried. While heading there, I saw many familiar figures-the guy who threw a stone in our building, and injured me, the landlord who used to yell at us, the girls who used to gossip about my sister, and little children who were playing on the ground—tourists who were standing in line outside restaurants.

The expressions on all their faces were ones of joy. They were all happy. At the same time, my parents would never be able to smile again. If I used 'Red' and burnt the entire city, or 'Blue' and brought a tsunami on this city. Would everyone then share the same expression as my parents?

I arrived at the graveyard, situated above the seashore, near the cliffs where the sun shines directly. My parents decided to bury my sister here because they didn't want others to vandalize her grave. So, they looked for a spot where no one would come and where the sun was bright — my sister was afraid of the dark.

I buried my parents beside my sister. And place a big white rock over it.

"Rest well," I said as I left. I jumped from the cliff directly into the ocean. I fell deeper and deeper into the water. Closing my eyes, I sensed the darkness. When I look back on my actions, I regret them. Because I left my parents alone in this world. Now, I have no one. And there is only deep darkness in my heart.

If I burned the city, what would be the point? Won't they be alive in my next Regression? What point would there be in any action? Won't they just reset in my next life? I buried my parents for now, but won't they appear right in front of me, cold and lifeless, in the next life?

What meaning is there in anything?

I kept falling.

Heh, burn the city. Did the children in the Morael, who were barely 5-6 years old, commit any crime? What of those just born? What of those genuinely pursuing a dream? What of others like my sister? What of those who, despite suffering, look ahead today to the next day in pursuit of meaning?

'A Regressor needs a strong mental fortitude.' I agree. 'The Great Vortex,' you called yourself, didn't you? In my eyes, you have already lost your strength. The only anchor you have is madness.

I fell deeper.

At a point where even light failed to reach. The water pressure was high, but with 'Blue' and 'Black' I easily kept falling.

I sank deeper and deeper into the sea.

In the depths where no life stirred, I opened my eyes and faced the vast emptyness. This darkness... it was calm. It simply was—ever-present.

Compared to it, my tragedies felt small. Minuscule.

Light may scatter darkness in an instant, but darkness waits—patiently—behind every flicker, ready to return.

And so, I chose it, not as an escape, but as an anchor. I won't let the countless lives I live consume me.

I do not know what kind of life I will live in the future. But I do know my possibilities. I once let my sister's death become the focal point of my life. What did this result in? Losing focus on the one good thing that remained in my life. My parents. I rejected this world and killed myself, but if death won't claim me, and I have no choice but to live, then this time I will live free. I will seek answers. I will find out why my sister had to die. Why were my parents killed? No. I will find out why 'those like my sister and my parents' have to suffer. Why do some get to live with their bellies full and mouths gleeful every day, while some have to struggle every day in the hope of one ounce of food? Why do some get to openly dream of great pursuits while some are happy to have survived for another day?

But I won't let my pursuit cage me.

I won't bury my grief—nor let it harden into a stone that haunts me through every Regression. I will accept it. As the dark welcomes all things without resistance—yet remains untouched by them—so too will I carry my grief. I will let it exist within me, but I will not be devoured by it. That is why I came here.

That is my anchor. That is my name—Dark. To remind myself how small I am in this world. And how, despite that, I still endure. To remind myself that, compared to this vast, endless dark, even the deepest sorrow is fleeting. To remember that no matter what comes—grief, joy, envy, desire—none of it outlasts the darkness.

I will use this darkness not to drown, but to remember.

◈◈◈

10 Years Later

◈◈◈

Rays of light penetrated the darkness of the sea.

A loud voice echoed. "Did you think I wouldn't be able to find you if you hid in the depths of the ocean?"

'Had it been 10 years already?' I opened my eyes after a long sleep. I was waiting.

The ocean split open as a tall person, wearing a long black coat and dark sunglasses with slicked-back black hair, revealed himself. "Hello. Little One. Ew. Still wearing that ugly mask. Hm. It's blue and black this time. Does the color correspond in accordance with the ability used?"

I immediately created a bubble of water around me to float in mid-air and not fall. My eyes adjusted to the light. As I looked at myself, I realized I had grown taller, and my muscles were well-toned. I survived by learning the reverse principle of the 'Colors'. When I use the power of 'Colors', I get exhausted. So, I thought whether I could absorb the element represented by the 'Color' to replenish myself. It was a complicated process, but with time, I learned to adapt to it.

"I was not hiding," I replied. He's strong. I was so deep in the ocean that even light couldn't reach me. Yet he split the sea in half and found me easily. How does his power work? Does it have similar principles to my 'Color'?

"Is that so?" Vortex smiled. "Inventory. Pull. Artifact. Grade Triple S. Grace's Flute of Eternal Sleep, Grade B. Rast Gloves. Grade B. Rast Shied."

Red gloves appeared on his arms. In his right hand, he held a white flute. Besides him appeared two split colossal shields that looked to be similar to an egg's structure when combined.

'Artifacts? Similar to my mask?' I took caution and formed a small island of large green thorny vines.

"Tell me what you did in the ten years? How many cities did you visit? Did you see my banners? How was the Leveling System I brought from the future? Although I may have been declared dead, my invention will forever immortalize my name. Amn't I great?' Vortex kept talking as he created a colossal sword in mid-air out of nothing. "Tell me. Amn't I great?" The enormous sword sliced down towards me. I dashed to the split sea and reentered the water. My vines got cut and fell. The 'Blue' in my mask shone brighter.

A tsunami formed over Vortex.

"Impressive. First Vines? Now you can control water, too? Those things don't follow either the Leveling System or the Blessings of the Lord. Although, since it is a phenomenon that denies the laws of nature, I say it's closer to a 'Blessing.'" Vortex muttered. He extended his arm. "Inventory. Pull. Artifact. Grade A. Jug of Endless."

The water swirled as the tsunami and a part of the sea got instantly absorbed by a small ceramic jug with golden patterns.

Surrounded by water, a small seed appeared in my plan. "Bloom." The seed also absorbed water and grew into a towering tree that reached the sky, with its branches spreading rapidly. Thousands of long, sharp branches attacked Vortex.

"Artifact. Pull—grade A. Scarlet Flame of Ryok. " A red spear appeared in his left arm. As he fled and dodged, he threw the spear towards the tree. The spear penetrated one branch. The branch was engulfed in scarlet flames. The fire spread at an incredible rate, instantly burning the entire tree, but the tree did not fall. With fire on the branches, it still pursued Vortex.

"Absorbs water to sustain itself. I must say I am at an environmental disadvantage." Vortex casually flew back. The ocean was endless, and he managed to escape at a relatively far distance from the tree.

Meanwhile, I observed from under the water. I understood more and more principles of 'Colors'. The only thing that seemed to limit my power after learning 'Reverse Principle' was creativity, so long as there was an element I could absorb. Then, I thought back on the Rainbow Island. The creatures weren't that powerful, yet how come the power that stemmed from them is this powerful? If the creatures were able to display the power as I am doing right now, no one would be able to kill them. One factor I can think of is that the colors enhance each other. 'Blue' Enhances 'Green.' That is the only way to make one's 'Color' potent. If I had only Green alone. I wouldn't be able to use it for long due to exhaustion. I cannot use the same color for both offence and 'Reverse Principle' at the same time. Still, any creature wielding 'Green' should have enough abilities that no normal human would be able to kill it. So? How did the red band kill it? It is possible that the creature's limited intelligence hindered its ability. As for 'White', it's understandable. In terms of combat, it must have been the weakest. All it could do was hide in a separate world. Suitable for an assassination attempt, but useless once revealed. The queen was stupid to reveal herself.

Alternatively, it is possible that the power behind the 'Color' did not originate from those creatures. Instead, their blood was just a condition needed to access a different source of power using the mask. This makes more sense, as I cannot just think how red bands, who were normal people, killed those creatures with power, especially such as 'Red' and 'Black'.

"I am getting bored." Vortex pulled out another jug. "Hehe. Don't underestimate a human who compares himself to God." The ocean dried. Not a single drop of water remained. I couldn't use Blue to create water. I fell. Fire engulfed my body, and I concentrated it around my legs to keep myself afloat in the air. My clothes, which I had stolen from the fishermen who caught me, burned.

"Ew. Indecent behavior. Someone call the police." Vortex laughed.

The tree turned into ashes as there was no water for sustenance. The scarlet flame dried. That water was my advantage. Using it, I could keep using 'Colors' without getting exhausted due to the Reverse Principle. But now, there is nothing I can absorb. No fire, water, or plants. It's midnoon, so I cannot wait for night...I looked down. I stopped using 'Red. '

Once the ocean disappeared. The land below appeared to be filled with deep scars and pits. Inside the scars was darkness. My only option left was 'Black'. So, I fell.

"Let there be Light." From far away, I heard Vortex chant while holding a cane. Soon, light poured through the entire area. The light was so bright that I had to close my eyes to adjust to it. Soon, not even a hint of shadow remained. But down in the land I saw plants that grew underground. I found some hope.

"Play time's over." Vortex smiled. Suddenly I felt like my legs and torso were chopped into tiny pieces.

I was still thinking of a strategy when the world around me shattered like glass. The plain white clothes had returned to my body. The ocean was there, split in half, and Vortex was hovering over me, while playing a flute.

It was like we were back in the moment before the battle started. An illusion? I was fighting and killed inside an illusion? My arms trembled while my jaws clenched. 'Wait. Why would he use an illusion?' I felt a shiver pass down my spine. Suddenly, the world scattered again.

.

My body felt smaller; the plain white clothes I wore had changed into a blue-colored academy blazer. My body, which was supposed to be hovering in air, was now standing within four walls of the student council's room.

My heart started to beat violently as I once again saw my sister's bruised and lifeless corpse over the table.

"It was all your fault." Noises roamed around my ear, as they got louder and louder. "It's because you were weak." "You could only be a coward." They were all my voices, and they kept getting louder. "Your sister never brought a pretty dress for herself because all of her savings would be spent on your books." "Yet what did she get in return?" "You knew, didn't you? The way the council president looked at your sister?" "Why did you do it?" "Did you think your problems would magically disappear?" "That it would be so easy." "Why did she have to pay the price for your cowardice?" "Why didn't you change yourself?"

I screamed, overwhelmed by the voices.

The table vanished, and the walls shifted. Instead, I saw a staircase with blood dripping down and my mother's corpse.

"They worked day and night, yet many nights, the plate on their table was empty while yours at least had bread." "Had they ever asked you to be their hope? Didn't you force that burden on yourself?" "If you had told them about your situation in school, do you think they would have forced you to keep attending?" "Did they ask you to kill your sister's murderers?" "Did killing them return your sister's reputation?" "Did your parents find any solace?" "If you wanted justice, you would have sought ways to reveal the truth, be patient no matter how many years it took." "Why did you take the easy way out?"

The voices got louder. I fell and screamed.

"Why do you deserve to live?"

"Why?"

"Your existence will only bring misery to others."

A cross appeared around my arm. My voice welled. "..I should... not...be alive." I wanted to stab myself using it, but I stopped my arm in the last moment. Suddenly the world around me darkened. The walls, the floor, and the bodies—everything disappeared. The voices couldn't reach me. My body felt submerged in water. I felt empty yet calm.

I stretched my arm above almost as if I wanted to grab something. But there was nothing above.

Suddenly the world cracked again.

I found myself hovering over the ocean inside a water bubble while Vortex stood opposite me at the same level.

He was no longer smiling.