Heavens

The sun dipped low over the horizon, casting a golden glow across the sea. Zero and the old man stood by the water's edge, the waves lapping gently at the shore.

Zero, still suspended in the air, struggled against the invisible force holding him in place.

His frustration was palpable, his movements frantic as he tried to break free. 

"Calm down, Zero," the old man said, his voice steady and calm. "He broke the rule, and he deserved his punishment." 

But Zero wasn't listening. His mind was consumed by anger, his thoughts swirling with the image of the man's defiant laughter and the brutal execution that followed. "He died… he died right in front of me," Zero muttered, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Another person died in front of me! I wanted to save him, but you stopped me!" 

The old man remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.

 When he finally spoke, his tone was firm but gentle. "You couldn't have done anything, Zero. He broke the rule, and you know the consequences. King Deil's laws are absolute. If someone defies them, they must face the punishment." 

"He didn't break the rule!" Zero shot back, his voice rising.

"He just wanted to live a free life! He did what was right—what I did in my past. He was just like me!" 

The old man's eyes narrowed, but he didn't interrupt. 

Zero's anger boiled over, his words spilling out in a furious torrent. "He and I are the same! We don't want to be slaves to anyone! Humans are born free, and no one has the right to enslave us! I could have saved him, but you stopped me—like you always do! But not anymore. You can't hold me back now. I'll break your mantra, and then I'll kill Deil!" 

The old man sighed, his expression unchanging. "You can't break my mantra, Zero." 

"I can!" Zero insisted, his determination burning in his eyes. 

"Do you want to try?" the old man asked, his tone almost taunting. 

Without hesitation, Zero formed a triangle with his fingers, his voice ringing out as he chanted, "ALIN : REIN!" 

Nothing happened..

He tried again, his voice growing louder, more desperate. "ALIN : REIN! ALIN : REIN!" 

Still, nothing. 

The old man watched him calmly, his gaze unwavering. "You don't know anything yet, Zero. It's useless to try. You'll never reach my level. Just give up." 

Zero's hands trembled as he lowered them, his frustration giving way to a simmering resolve. The old man's words stung, but they only fueled his determination. He wouldn't give up. Not now. Not ever. 

The sea breeze carried the tension between them, the sound of the waves a quiet backdrop to their silent standoff. Zero's eyes burned with defiance, his heart set on a path that even the old man's mantra couldn't restrain. 

The battle of wills had only just begun...

Zero's voice echoed across the shoreline, his words sharp and defiant. "The one who can set my limits is me! Not you!" he shouted, his body trembling with effort and emotion.

"You're just a coward. A coward and nothing more! You make excuses, but you can't do anything. If you're so powerful, why don't you kill Deil yourself? I'm not like you. I'm different! And I'll show you what I am—what I can do. I'll surpass you one day. This is my promise!!"

His scream carried a raw, unshakable confidence, reverberating through the air.

 The old man, unfazed, sat calmly on the ground, his eyes fixed on Zero.

He watched as Zero continued to chant the mantra, his efforts growing more desperate with each attempt.

Hours passed..

The night deepened, and the stars glittered above, but Zero didn't stop.

His body was drenched in sweat, his muscles aching, yet he refused to give up.

The old man observed silently, his expression unreadable, as Zero pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion. 

Then, something extraordinary happened...

The sky above New Xebris began to tremble. A strange, otherworldly energy rippled through the atmosphere, shaking the very ground beneath them. The stars seemed to blur, and the air grew heavy with an inexplicable power. Zero froze, his eyes wide with shock as he looked up. 

The heavens themselves seemed to split open, revealing a figure descending from the chaos.

A man, his face marked with deep wounds and a stern, unyielding expression. His beard was thick and wild, framing a face that spoke of decades of hardship and resilience. He appeared to be in his sixties or seventies, yet his presence radiated an aura of immense strength and authority. 

The old man's gaze shifted to the sky, his calm demeanor faltering for the first time.

 Even he seemed taken aback by the sudden phenomenon. 

Zero stood motionless, his earlier defiance replaced by awe. The man in the sky was unlike anyone he had ever seen. His very presence seemed to command the world, as if the heavens themselves bowed to his will. 

The ground continued to shake, the sky alight with an otherworldly glow. The man descended slowly, his eyes locking onto Zero and the old man. His expression was grave, his silence more powerful than any words. 

For a moment, time itself seemed to stand still.

The night, once filled with Zero's desperate cries and the old man's quiet resolve, was now dominated by the arrival of this enigmatic figure. 

The old man finally broke the silence, his voice low and measured. "It seems..."

Zero, still staring at the sky, could only whisper, "Old man.. this is.."

The answer hung in the air, as mysterious and profound as the man himself.

The night was far from over, and the events that followed would change everything. 

The man began to speak, his voice echoing across the world with a low, resonant shiver. "I am here for the last time. But this moment will make me immortal, for the world will remember me forever." 

The crowd, both near and far, fell silent, captivated by his words. 

"For years, we humas have been oppressed by the Xebrisrosa and the kings. But no more! It ends now!" his voice grew stronger, filled with a fiery resolve. "I have spent years researching, searching for the truth. And now, I have found it. 'The Great Juxtaposition Xebris'—our god, the creator of this world—is still alive.. he walks among us, hidden somewhere in this world. Whoever finds him will gain the power to reshape this world as they see fit. They can eliminate the Xebrisrosa and the kings, and create a world where everyone is free and happy." 

The sky trembled as his words echoed, a profound silence settling over the land.

 Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the phenomenon faded. 

But the impact of Pelisa's words lingered. Across the world, in every corner of New Xebris, people began to rise. Their hearts, once heavy with despair, now burned with hope. Voices rang out, unified and resolute: "We will make this world a better place!" 

Zero stood in stunned silence, his earlier frustration replaced by a newfound determination. The old man, too, seemed deep in thought, his gaze fixed on the horizon. 

The world had changed in an instant. His words had ignited a spark—a spark that would grow into a flame, lighting the path toward a future where freedom and hope were no longer just dreams. 

The world erupted in a chorus of defiance and determination. Voices rose from every corner of New Xebris, united by a single purpose. 

"I will possess him. Great Xebris is alive." 

"God, I am coming!" 

"Let's go." 

"I am going to start the revolution against the Xebrisrosa." 

"Kings of all the worlds, your end is coming." 

"I will rule the world." 

"Wait for me, you damn Xebrisrosa and kings. I will end you all." 

The world had been reborn in hope. The people, once broken and oppressed, now stood united, ready to fight for what they had lost. They were stronger together, their resolve unshakable. 

Zero, standing by the shore, clenched his fists as he absorbed the energy of the moment. He turned to the old man, his eyes blazing with determination. "This is the time, isn't it? Old man.." he asked..

The old man, still seated on the ground, didn't look at him. His voice was calm but probing. "Yes. The time has come.."

Zero hesitated, his confidence wavering for a moment. He glanced around, taking in the world that had just been set ablaze with hope. Finally, he spoke, his voice tinged with a quiet resolve. "5 Years ago, my parents were killed by deil. And then I vowed to myself. To kill him! Kill him in the worst possible way.."

His words carried a medium level of enthusiasm, but beneath them lay a deep, unyielding determination...

The old man remained silent, his expression unreadable. But for the first time, there was a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps approval, perhaps doubt. 

The fight for freedom has just begun.