Our Cycle of Vitiation

Crackle. Crackle.

Boom!

Pushing through the heavy rain pounding against my face, I made it out of the forestry and onto a large, open, muddy road leading into the kingdom of Ymir.

Down the road, not far from where I stood, the kingdom walls had crumbled.

I couldn't make out anything—only the violet beam piercing the smoky, violet skies. But I advanced, walking through the mud, each step slowing my approach.

Crackle!

A thunderclap flashed before my eyes, a large tree crashing down from my right side.

I barely evaded, stumbling to the ground as the land beneath me trembled.

I tried scrambling to my feet, mud coating my arms, but then—Rumble. Rumble.

I turned, heart pounding, as the earth behind me slowly began to split apart.

I ran. Ran toward the kingdom, the only path forward. It became closer with each step, but the rain blurred my vision, my breath ragged.

After what felt like ten minutes, I made it near the kingdom. But as I walked, I saw them.

Thousands.

Bodies, drenched in dark purple goo, frozen in place. The sound of weeping and anguish filled my ears. Their eyes glowed a deep violet, their veins bulging, pulsing the same color.

I passed one, then another. As I moved through the fallen, black smoke erupted from their mouths. I heard whispers slithering from their lips, speaking in a tone I couldn't understand.

I didn't care.

My eyes remained locked forward, set on the single, undeniable truth.

This is it.

This is it.

I understand, Kleyn.

I stepped through the entrance.

The inside was no different—dark goo bodies filled the streets. The buildings, the shops—everything was destroyed. The violet beam piercing the skies erupted from the large palace at the center.

My eyes narrowed. I took a deep breath.

Then, I walked. Pushed through a few. Climbed over others. Their screams, their weeping—none of it fazed me.

Because I knew the truth.

120 meters away.

I took all these lives around me.

100 meters away.

Only to be tortured.

80 meters away.

Now I understand the hate you have for me.

50 meters away.

An apology won't make up for the sins I committed.

30 meters away.

Why?

20 meters away.

Why did I do it?

15 meters away.

Destroying the world…

Ascending the cracked, darkened palace steps, I caught sight of—Me.

There I was. Darkness erupted from my clothes like a shroud. White hair billowing as the intense violet beam pierced the clouds. Holding a small black orb in both hands, whispering secrets of the damned.

Step.

13 meters away.

I gazed into the dark violet eyes of myself—who, strangely, looked shocked.

Then, I heard him speak, his voice echoing in a multitude.

"Me…?"

My brow furrowed instantly. A thought crossed my mind.

What? Why is he—?

My eyes widened.

A sharp pain coursed through my skull, and an enraged voice screamed in my head.

You killed Felene!

You took her from me!

I gritted my teeth, gripping my head. My body moved on its own—I couldn't stop it.

My head?!

Why does that voice sound familiar?!

Instinctively, my left hand reached for the golden watch around my neck, slowly pointing it toward him.

The watch began to glow.

Everything slowed to a crawl.

The rain. The cries of the fallen. The violet beam piercing the sky. Everything.

A flash of light.

I saw myself—sucked into the golden watch in an instant.

Then—silence.

The clouds dispersed.

The orb hit the ground with a dull thud.

The dark goo covering the bodies remained. The destruction, unchanged.

But my knees buckled.

I collapsed, my mind racing to comprehend what just happened.

I looked around.

No sign of me.

But as my gaze fell upon the golden watch in my hands—My vision spiraled.

The world twisted, bending into a vortex of blinding light. My senses collapsed inward as destructive winds roared in my ears, deafening me.

Until—A pulse.

A sensation coursed through me.

I feel… powerful.

No.

All-powerful. All-knowing.

I am… and I am not… both beyond the idea of either. 

Ever-present, ever-absent. 

Boundless.

My eyes snapped open.

All around me—darkness.

I looked down at my hand. A glowing yellow sphere rested in my palm, a small figure curled inside.

What is this?

It was the only thought that crossed my mind.

But then—my vision pulled back. I saw myself.

No—I saw Kleyn, holding the sphere.

What? Why am I watching Kleyn?

Then, I heard him speak. "I will make you pay for what you did."

Suddenly, he spun the sphere in his hand, the figure inside beginning to revert.

"First, I will strip you of your power."

"Second, your memories."

"Third, your identity."

The sphere spun faster and faster. Then, it stopped.

And in that instant, the realization struck me. This is what he did to me?

Then, with a wave of his hand, he shouted, "You will suffer!"

With another wave, the sphere reversed counterclockwise, and I saw his hazel eyes glowing into something... a fierce amber.

The void began to swirl into light, and I watched him create something I couldn't comprehend.

He used his hands to create prompts and called it the System.

[Let there be endless gray rocky land that stretches forever.]

Next, he commanded—

[Let there be an illusion behind 10 floors and 10 doors, with different beasts in each.]

After that, he commanded—

[For death is made meaningless, and life is made whole. He shall not die. Not now. Not ever. Not forevermore.]

I was left speechless.

He did all of this... for his wife.

Felene.

Who was I before this?

To start such a bonfire…

My thoughts trailed off. Every moment that passed, I could see the same events unfolding.

Waking up in the dark room. Not knowing where or why I was there. Blue prompts appearing before me and disappearing. A door with [Floor 1] labeled over it as I entered.

Died once.

Came back to life.

More prompts telling me to try again.

Oddly enough, I didn't see any purple prompts.

Why isn't it visible…?

Can he not see it as well?

Odd.

Was any of that real? The purple prompts?

Hmm…

My thoughts wandered but led nowhere.

Guess it doesn't matter.

I know how this goes. I watched every moment unfold, but watching his face through it all—

It struck me.

He wasn't happy.

He didn't take joy in my suffering.

He was only furious.

He kept muttering, "You will pay."

He kept saying it on repeat, and for some reason…

I could feel every ounce of his fury.

Every thought. Every curse. Every word he uttered.

Every tear, every change in his expression.

This is what it feels like.

To lose someone you love.

To have everything you had left taken from you.

This was only the beginning.

For the next ten years, nothing changed.

Not his fury.

Not anything.

I thought he was sadistic.

I thought the torment he caused me was pointless.

Now, I understand.

I was in the wrong.

Then, I saw it—the moment that caught my attention. 

In the sphere, I could see myself reaching out toward the prompt.

At that instant, an idea struck my mind.

If I am in Kleyn's body… then maybe…

The second I was pulled through the prompt, everything felt zoomed in, like I was being dragged into a black hole.

But this—this was something I expected.

CRACK!

I met the furious face of myself.

White long hair. Torn brown cloak. Green briaes. Destroyed black boots.

His hand gripped my throat. "You trapped me here and tormented me!"

His grip tightened. "Who are you?!"

I knew Kleyn was about to answer.

But this time—this was different.

I smiled. And I managed to say—"This is our sin. Remember, Kleyn?"

His eyes widened. I took my chance. Reaching for the golden watch around my neck, I wrapped it around his.

I grabbed his arm into a hug and whispered—"Our cycle of vitiation."

A white flash blinded my vision. I was blown back. Not falling—soaring. I saw stars all around me. Clouds, a second later. Cities and nations, five seconds later. 

Everything spun and spun and spun.

I was—THUD!

"Ow," Sho groaned, tripping forward.

Rubbing the side of his head, he glanced up—A bustling city filled with people.

"Where am I?" Sho whispered.

He looked around, taking in the unfamiliar sights—entertainers playing instruments, children running through the streets, people wearing unfamiliar clothing.

It was bright. The energy was softly vibrant. Sho looked down at his hands—his pale skin.

His eyes widened. He scrambled to his feet. 

Frantically, he touched his clothes—A green cloak with unique designs. Brown dark pants. Black shoes.

"I have different clothes on?"

A thought flashed through his mind. He turned his head. 

A mirror stood against a brick wall, next to a clothing shop on the right. Sho walked toward it.

He looked at his reflection. Touched his face.

"Violet eyes… White long hair."

Slowly, he sighed. Then, he smiled.

"I am me again."

Suddenly, a voice spoke behind him. "Mister."

Sho turned, meeting the gaze of a man wearing an orange robe. 

"I am the owner of this shop," the man said. "Are you planning on buying that?"

Sho's brow furrowed. He… doesn't recognize me?

The shopkeeper raised a brow. "Mister?"

Sho took a step forward. And he asked—"Do you know me?"

The shopkeeper's brows knitted together. "What?"

Sho's eyes widened. A slight smirk formed on his lips. He turned and walked away.

The shopkeeper watched him go, shaking his head. What a strange customer…

Sho paced down the street. Passing by dozens. No one recognized him. No one hated him. 

No one targeted him.

"Have I broken the cycle?"

He halted. His eyes narrowed.

What about…? 

His thoughts trailed off. 

Sho swiped his hand. No prompt. He did it again.

Nothing.

And then—Something struck him. His hand started to tremble.

"I—I am free," he stammered, his voice shaking.

Clenching his fist—feeling lighter, relieved. He smiled deeply.

A tear slid down his right eye. Sho collapsed to his knees. "It's all over."

Sho took a moment, taking deep breaths before rising to his feet.

He felt renewed, yet one thing distracted him from his reverie.

He felt something strange in his pocket. His mind raced as he instinctively reached inside.

His expression faltered as he pulled it out. The Golden Watch.

Didn't I wrap this around his neck?

Why do I still have it?

Sho took a closer look at it, and something flashed through his mind.

Felene…

She handed him this watch before she died.

Her words stuck with him.

"She told us everything."

The memory came and went, leaving Sho pondering as his lips parted. "Who is she?"

Her words tugged at Sho's mind. His thoughts swirled, leaving him lost in contemplation.

I need to find her.

If someone gave her this watch...

They could be the real ones behind this.

He gripped the watch, his eyes narrowing. He glanced up at the horizon and muttered, "I remember. Hopefully, they are still there."

He went on his way through the bustling city, toward his next destination.

Though...

That is what I expect of him.