THE TRUTH

An electrifying clash was happening between Yamino and the Dead Emperor. The air crackles with tension as Yamino charges forward, his violet katana gleaming with an ominous light. The Dead Emperor, cloaked in decayed regalia that still holds a faint, regal aura, raises his ancient blade—a weapon etched with symbols of a bygone age—to meet Yamino's assault.

The cave reverberates with the sound of clashing steel and bursts of raw energy. Each strike from Yamino's katana sends shockwaves rippling through the air, but the Dead Emperor counters with an unsettling ease, his movements precise and deliberate. Yamino grits his teeth, unleashing a flurry of attacks, each more ferocious than the last. Yet, the Emperor seems to anticipate every move, parrying effortlessly and retaliating with devastating strikes that push Yamino back.

"You cannot defeat me," the Emperor's hollow voice echoes, carrying the weight of centuries. "You wield power, but you lack understanding."

Yamino's determination flares, his grip on the katana tightening. "I've come too far to back down now!" he roars, channeling his energy into a powerful overhead strike. The blow lands with explosive force, creating a shockwave that momentarily blinds both combatants in a storm of dust and debris.

When the dust clears, the Emperor stands unscathed, his glowing eyes locked onto Yamino with an almost pitying expression. In a blur of motion, he closes the distance between them and delivers a series of swift, precise strikes that Yamino struggles to evade. The final blow sends Yamino crashing to the ground, his katana skidding out of reach.

Breathing heavily, Yamino pushes himself up on trembling arms, blood dripping from a wound on his side. The Emperor approaches slowly, his imposing presence magnified by the shadows cast by the flickering light of the cave. "You are not ready for this path," he intones, raising his blade for the final strike.

In a flash of cold light, the Emperor's sword descends. Pain sears through Yamino's body, and the world around him fades to black.

When Yamino opens his eyes, he finds himself in a pristine white room. The walls seem to stretch endlessly in all directions, glowing softly with an otherworldly light. There is no discernible ceiling, no floor—just an infinite expanse of white. A strange weightlessness surrounds him, as if he is suspended in a dream.

"Where… am I?" Yamino murmurs, his voice echoing faintly in the emptiness. He notices that his wounds are gone, and his body feels weightless, almost as if he is floating.

A voice breaks the silence, calm and resonant. "Hi, boss."

Yamino: "Who?"

The voice: "Boss, I am your soul partner."

Yamino: "Huh? What? My soul partner? But I never had a life partner in my two lives, and now you're telling me I've always had one?"

The voice chuckles lightly, an ethereal sound that reverberates in the endless space. "No! I didn't mean it that way. I am the Grimoire of Fate, born from the seven particles of the fate god Luminas. I am the one who made you witness your future death."

Yamino: "Huh? Luminas? Who? Who is this fate god of yours? And what do you mean by making me watch my own death? Were those events not real? The things I saw, the powers I wielded—were they not real?"

The voice: "What you saw wasn't real. I merely allowed you to witness the future you were destined to have."

Before the voice can finish its words, Yamino interjects, "But… but am I not a transmigrator? Aren't transmigrators supposed to be the main characters, or at least powerful survivors?"

The voice sighs. "I know everything about you. You weren't meant to arrive in this middle-realm universe. You were destined to die in the lower realm at the hands of your uncle. But I saved you and brought you here. I am also the one who can make you powerful."

Yamino: "But why? Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?"

The voice grows somber. "I want many things from you, but you will not be able to accomplish them as you are. And I am not yet powerful enough to obtain them. But worry not, boss. I know the way. Shall we begin anew? However, I must warn you: you will forget about me, and we will start from the beginning. Where it all ended. But this time, it will be different. I will take you to the most powerful version of this world—a universe where you will have all the means to become strong. I will help you. But you will forget about me. Until—"

Yamino opens his mouth to ask "Until what?" but before he can form the words, pain sears through his head. A flood of light rushes over him, a kaleidoscope of color and raw energy twisting around his body. He gasps as he feels himself being torn apart, scattered into a million brilliant fragments.

For a moment, everything is chaos. Then, silence.

A cold wind brushes against his face. Yamino blinks, his vision refocusing. He is no longer in the endless white void. Instead, he stands in a vast, ancient forest, the towering trees glowing with bioluminescent energy. The air hums with a strange power, and the sky above him swirls with constellations he does not recognize.

His body feels different—stronger, more refined.

Yamino had found himself in a world of wonders. The world he now inhabited was called the OLD WORLD. Although Yami had forgotten about the Grimoire of Fate, he still remembered the lives he had lived again and again. He was living the same life here too—but with one key difference.

No! A big one, actually.

The Old World, originally called Planet Sukopia, was once a high-tech civilization—a world of machines and intelligence. But only 25% of the land was habitable, as nature had been nearly destroyed. Then, a century ago, the First Apocalypse of Seven Days occurred. More than twenty-five dimensions collided, creating new universes and obliterating old ones. People lost their families, their loved ones. But they also gained something: a new place to live, a revitalized natural environment, and a mysterious, resource-rich planet.

But that's not the big news, guys. Let me tell you a story. Right now, we are living in the Age of the Adventure Emperor. After the apocalypse, a man set out to explore this reborn Earth. By the end of his journey, he had become the most powerful king in the world—the ruler of the Nine Sailing Alliance. Inspired by his legend, people sought to follow in his footsteps, desiring the strength and status he had attained. However, upon his death, the secret of how he became so powerful was erased from history. Though the world remembered his legendary adventures, no one knew exactly what had made him so formidable. Even so, people took to the seas and lands in pursuit of their own destinies. Over time, they discovered that the continent they lived on was surrounded by massive walls.

Now, Yami—known as Yusko in this world—was left to ponder his path. He was just a simple boy from a simple family. His mother had passed away when he was young, and his father, an adventurer, had abandoned them before he was even born. He had been raised by his grandmother, who had died a week before he arrived in this world. Now, he had inherited the family business—hunting beasts in the forest.

A week after settling into this new life, Yusko had grown accustomed to hunting small rabbits and deer, living a quiet but steady existence. Each day, he ventured into the forest, selling his catches to markets and high-end restaurants. But today, fate had something different in store for him.

That morning, Yusko set out as usual, armed with a bow and arrows, some rope, and a small knife. However, as he trekked through the forest, he noticed something unusual—there were no animals in sight. A deep unease settled in his chest. Then, he spotted a trail of blood leading deeper into the woods.

He thought that perhaps an injured animal had passed through, so he decided to follow the trail.

After nearly an hour of tracking, he found himself standing before the entrance of a dark cave. The blood led inside. He felt no fear and stepped forward. But as he walked deeper into the cave, the oppressive darkness swallowed him whole.

For the first time, fear gripped him.

A creeping sensation crawled up his spine—a feeling he knew all too well. This was the same fear he felt whenever he encountered ghosts or anything connected to the supernatural. Even so, he pressed on.

Then, suddenly—nothing beneath his feet.

He was falling.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

He screamed as loud as he could, but no one came to his aid. He crashed into the ground below, his body wracked with pain as something hard struck his head. Blood seeped from the wound, yet he still clung to life. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to stand. His broken bones protested, but somehow, he managed to get to his feet.

His throat burned with thirst.

That's when he saw it—a pure white, transparent lake. The water shimmered like liquid ice. But why was it here, deep inside this cave?

The question flickered through his mind, but he had no time to dwell on it. His thirst overpowered his curiosity. He staggered toward the lake, but before he could reach it, his weakened body betrayed him. He tripped and fell forward, plunging into the icy depths.

His broken limbs rendered him helpless. The water rushed into his lungs. He flailed weakly, but it was no use. Slowly, he sank beneath the surface.

Darkness swallowed him whole as consciousness slipped away.

Then, something changed.

A sudden surge of warmth coursed through his body, replacing the numbing cold. The pain in his limbs dulled, his broken bones mending themselves with an unnatural speed. His vision blurred, and a strange energy wrapped around him like an invisible cocoon.

Through the haze, a voice echoed in his mind.

"Wake up."