Ryuta And The Zodiac Ruins(1)

Flashback: The Zodiac Ruins

In the celestial halls of the Zodiac Ruins, five powerful figures stood before a massive floating screen, watching Ryuta's past.

On the screen, the True Deity's voice echoed across the Divine Dynamic Heaven as he addressed Ryuta.

"What is your wish, young man?"

Ryuta was hesitant, his heart beating fast, but he knew his wish from the beginning.

"I wish to rewrite fate," Ryuta responded in a calm tone, his words respectful.

"He's nuts," Leonis exclaimed.

"But it was pretty cool," Kael murmured, admiration filling her eyes.

"Why would he wish for that? It is pretty suspicious when you think about it thoroughly," Aelius said with a frown, watching Ryuta from the magic screen.

The warriors of the Zodiac Ruins had watched Ryuta's journey for a long time, observing his every move. But now, the screen faded to black.

The present begins.

---

Present Day: The Journey to the Zodiac Realm

Ryuta walked tirelessly through the Center World, his mind wandering. He had died once. He had returned. And now, he was moving forward.

Without realizing it, he had already reached the gate leading out of the Center World.

Beyond the gate, monsters lurked, but with his Return to Life Sword, he cut them down, his glowing blade making quick work of them. No matter how many attacked, he moved forward without stopping.

After killing the last monster, he continued walking, entering a forest. After passing through the dense trees, he saw a tarot shop standing alone.

Inside, a young man stood behind the counter, shuffling tarot cards.

He asked Ryuta to pick one.

Ryuta did.

But nothing appeared. The card was faceless and blank.

After a moment, Ryuta gave up and walked out of the tarot shop.

Ryuta kept walking, his mind blank, exhaustion weighing on him. He didn't even realize where he was—

Until he looked up.

He froze.

He was already at the Gate Realm.

A flashback struck him like lightning.

The Gate Realm, where he had died.

The Gate Realm, where he was brought back to life.

The Gate Realm, where his friend had died just minutes before him.

He remembered everything while standing before the gate.

Without hesitation, Ryuta destroyed the gate.

It opened, revealing three floors beyond it:

The Human Realm

The Spirit Realm

The Deity Realm

Then—

The Gate Realm began to shake violently.

Ryuta felt it.

A staircase formed before him, appearing on its own, stretching upward into the unknown. A sign appeared in glowing letters:

(4th Floor) – The Zodiac Realm

He stepped forward. Slowly, he opened the door to the new realm—

WHAM!

A sudden strike to his head sent him stumbling backward.

Dazed, Ryuta looked up. His vision cleared—

A man surrounded by fire stood before him, arms crossed. His crimson eyes burned with fierce intensity, his body radiating heat.

It was Aelius,the Blazing Ram of Aries.

The warrior smirked.

"Took you long enough."