Echoes of Victory

The Passage Through Time

Darkness.

That was the first thing Emjay felt. But it wasn't just an absence of light. It was something deeper, heavier. It pressed against him, surrounded him, seeped into his very being. It was cold and yet warm, suffocating and yet vast. He felt like he was floating in an endless void, weightless, unanchored, drifting beyond the confines of reality itself.

Then, emotions flooded in.

Joy. Sorrow. Love. Hate. Triumph. Regret.

Memories surged through his mind—his childhood, the laughter of his siblings, the warmth of his mother's hug, the pride in his father's eyes when he achieved something great. Then came the war, the bloodshed, the screams of his fallen comrades, the sting of betrayal, the faces of those he had lost.

His heart clenched as he saw Nana's radiant smile, the warmth that held them together. Bleaf stood beside her, silent but unwavering, his loyalty needing no words.

Yano's steady voice echoed, always the pillar of reason and strength. Crimson's wild grin followed, fearless and untamed, a storm on the battlefield.

Kai had carried more than anyone knew, always thinking ahead, always protecting. Kazuki, firm and unyielding, had shielded them all without hesitation.

Nami's laughter rang out, a spark of joy even in the darkest times.

Then came the others. The ones left behind.

Aiziro, desperate to be seen. Yumi, afraid of being left behind. Lexa, torn between redemption and destruction. Alexer, fighting for his little sister.

Lathan, terrified of loneliness. Lilli and Esami, searching for meaning.

Elijah, betrayed by his ideals. Evena, paralyzed by hesitation.

And Lester—who had never wanted war, only to go home.

These were the faces Emjay would never forget.

A whirlwind of past and future engulfed him, a storm of all he had been and all he could become. And within that chaos, he felt something new—

Resolve.

His body felt like it was being pulled apart and stitched back together all at once. He clenched his fists, struggling to hold onto himself, to keep his mind intact. The sensation of being unmade and remade filled him, and then—

Everything stopped.

A sharp gasp escaped his lips as his feet touched solid ground.

The Return to War

The first thing Emjay saw was his own body.

Lying lifeless on the ground, blood pooling beneath it, his expression frozen in a mix of shock and pain. The wound that had killed him was still fresh, the aftermath of his older self's blade evident.

His stomach churned. Seeing his own corpse was surreal, horrifying. But then, something caught his eye—his right eye, still intact. It hadn't been taken by the sacrifice he made to return.

Footsteps.

His gaze snapped up. In the distance, walking away with an air of triumph, was Mjodi.

Rage ignited in his chest like a wildfire.

Without thinking, without hesitation, Emjay took off in a sprint, his feet pounding against the ground. The moment his presence registered in the air, Mjodi barely had time to turn before Emjay was upon him.

Their blades clashed in a violent spark of steel against steel.

Mjodi's eyes widened in disbelief as he blocked just in time, his arm trembling from the impact. "Impossible," he breathed. "You're dead."

Emjay gritted his teeth, pressing forward. "Not anymore."

Their fight was fierce, relentless. Blow after blow, strike after strike. Emjay attacked with a fury that burned from the depths of his soul, each movement sharper, stronger than before. Mjodi, for the first time, struggled to keep up.

"How are you still alive?" Mjodi growled, parrying a vicious strike. "I watched you die."

Emjay's gaze was unyielding. "I somehow used my power, And i sacrificed my left eye before dying, and it regenerated when i went to the past. Then i sacrificed my right eye to come back here."

Mjodi's smirk faltered for the first time. He was unnerved. Confused.

Emjay pressed the attack, forcing Mjodi on the defensive. Their fight moved like a storm, sweeping across the battlefield, shaking the very air around them. Mjodi tried to use his power to see into the future, to predict Emjay's movements—but Emjay had already seen through it.

Every step. Every attack. Every counter.

Mjodi's advantage was slipping away.

Their blades clashed again, sparks flying as they locked eyes. Mjodi chuckled, though it was strained. "You've changed," he admitted. "You're not the same reckless fool I once knew."

Emjay's expression was unreadable. "And you're not as invincible as you thought."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, Emjay took a deep breath.

"The past... the future... I've seen it all," he murmured. "I forgot something."

Mjodi raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Emjay's grip on his blade tightened. "The girl on the hill, The one who surprised us in the past."

Mjodi's smirk returned, though his eyes gleamed with something deeper—something knowing. "Ah," he said, a touch amused. "So you do forget."

Emjay's breath hitched. "Who is she?"

Mjodi chuckled. "How could you forget?"

"While in one of the battles, Early in the war, An enemy crashed into me, My brain got damaged and lost half of my memories." Emjay admitted, frustration creeping into his voice. "Tell me."

Mjodi leaned in, a sly grin playing on his lips. "Figure it out yourself."

Rage boiled in Emjay's veins, but he didn't let it control him. Instead, he focused—watching, calculating. And then, he saw his opening.

With a feint, he led Mjodi into a misstep. A split second of overconfidence.

It was all he needed.

His blade struck true, slamming into Mjodi with undeniable force. Mjodi stumbled back, blood dripping from his lips as he crashed onto the ground.

He gasped, pushing himself back with his hands, desperation flickering in his eyes as he backed against a cold, unmovable wall. There was nowhere left to run.

Emjay stood over him, his gun pointed directly at Mjodi's head.

"Say your last words."

Mjodi chuckled, despite the pain wracking his body. He tilted his head, grinning through the blood. "I guess this is the future you were wondering about."

A moment of hesitation.

Then, Emjay pulled the trigger.

The Aftermath

The grave was shallow but respectfully made. Mjodi had been his enemy, his rival, his older self twisted by time. But in the end, he had been a man just like him—driven by pain, by loss, by the desire to set things right in his own way.

As the dirt covered the body, Emjay whispered to himself.

"It's over."

And yet, even as he said it, he felt the weight of those who were lost.

Nana. Kazuki. Bleaf. Crimson. Nami. Yumi. Aiziro. Lexa. Alexer. Lethan. Lilli. Esami. Evena. Lester.

Each name was a scar on his heart, a reminder of what had been lost to bring about this victory. He let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes for a moment.

Then, he turned back to the base.

Kai and Yano greeted him with relieved faces. "Is it done?" Kai asked.

Emjay nodded. "The traitor is dead."

Yano frowned. "Who was it?"

Emjay hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "Just... an old ally. Nothing more."

They didn't press further. Instead, they sat together, a quiet celebration. Drinks in hand, they clinked their glasses together in a toast, though the air carried an undeniable sorrow.

"We won," Kai murmured.

"Yeah," Emjay said softly. "We won."

But deep down, he knew—this was just another step forward. The future was waiting.

And he would be ready for it.