Time flowed like water. The world continued to change. Humanity rebuilt. Entities that once threatened them became mere legends. But through it all, Auren had become an unparalleled symbol of hope and strength.
A New Tower Was Erected
This tower was called the "Tower of a Thousand Steps," a place for training, research, and gatherings for the new generations. Auren became the supreme head of this tower — not as a ruler, but as a guardian.
> Auren to his students:
> "You are not warriors. You are the writers of this new world's history.
> Power is not to tear down, but to build.
> If anyone forgets the past... you are the ones who must remind them."
>
However, in silence... the old system had not entirely vanished.
Some fragments of the old system appeared in the form of artifacts, books, and artificial beings. Some worshipped the old system and wanted to revive it. They called themselves "The Reclaimers."
The Reclaimers believed that the system was the true power and that the new world was merely an illusion.
A battle of ideologies began to rage.
Behind the world's curtain, Lisea — now the Eternal Soul — began to feel disturbances in the fabric of life.
> Lisea to Auren:
> "Someone... is trying to awaken the system by manipulating the world root.
> If they succeed, this world will return to the cruel wheel of fate."
>
> Auren:
> "Then we need to extinguish that root... before it grows back."
>
Auren led a small force — chosen trainers and students — to a forbidden location beneath the Tower of a Thousand Steps, where the roots of the old system were planted during the world's transition.
There they met a creature... not human, not an entity, but a shadow of the old system's will.
The creature spoke:
> Shadow:
> "You bring light, Auren. But wherever there is light, a shadow will be born.
> Without the system, you will drift aimlessly in freedom."
>
The battle erupted.
But Auren did not use his full power.
He spoke, rather than attacked.
He opened his heart, rather than pierced.
> Auren:
> "I don't need to conquer you. Because this world is not about who dominates... but who chooses not to be dominated."
>
The shadow eventually dissolved... not because it was defeated, but because it understood.
And with that, the last root of the old system was destroyed.