Breaking Point

As the door creaked open, a thick fog seeped into the room, the grating sound of metal scraping against metal ringing through the air. Azael was the first to step in. Every detail of his suit was immaculate, but the two pink roses embroidered on the left side stood out in sharp contrast to his somber demeanor. Following closely behind him was Nihilos, his long blonde hair tightly braided at the back, his face expressionless, as cold and unyielding as carved stone.

Those who followed them, however, painted a vastly different picture. The Voidwalkers, covered in blood, dust, and grime, staggered into the room. They were exhausted but unbroken. Some clutched their arms, others held onto their sides, struggling to move. A few remained silent, while others groaned in pain or let out quiet sobs. Whispers filled the space. A woman fell to her knees, clutching the hand of the person beside her, tears streaming down her face.

Seraphis immediately stepped forward, scanning the group carefully. Taking a deep breath, he surveyed his surroundings. “How many did we lose?” he asked, his voice gentle but heavy with concern.

From the back, a man with a bleeding wound on his forehead stumbled forward. “Eight…” he murmured, his voice shaking. “Some were captured. Some…”

He couldn’t finish. His eyes stared blankly into the distance, his words caught in his throat. Another survivor, a man with a gash on his shoulder, took over. “We will rescue the rest. But… we can’t keep hiding anymore.”

The weight of his words lingered in the air. All eyes turned to Nihilos. Yet, he showed no emotion. His gaze shifted to Seraphis. “We can’t keep hiding, is that it?” he repeated. “That’s something I should have told you long ago. And yet… you still cling to hope.”

As Azael stepped forward to stand beside Nihilos, his presence cast an even heavier atmosphere over the room. His aura was suffocating, like the echo of a dark prophecy pressing upon the shoulders of everyone present. Even in silence, his authority was overwhelming, as though every movement was calculated, every word layered with deeper meaning. People averted their gazes, unable to meet his eyes—his face was like marble, void of warmth, stirring an inexplicable dread within them. “There will be no true salvation until we shatter the Fate Eye into nothingness. If we don’t reach the core of the system, we will be trapped in this cycle forever.”

Seraphis narrowed his eyes. “We want freedom, but at what cost? How many lives are we willing to sacrifice, Azael? Your plan offers no future—only destruction.”

Azael stepped closer to Seraphis, his dark eyes like an endless abyss, yet burning with unshakable arrogance. “Even destruction is better than this rotten system. We are already dying, Seraphis. Have you not realized that yet? We are being erased. But I will not allow fate to forget me. I will be the one who does not disappear. And you know that.” Spreading his arms, he continued, his voice steady yet commanding. “We are not just fighting. We are here to rule. To reclaim our existence. To refuse oblivion. If this war brings an end, then I will be the one to write that ending!”

Meanwhile, others moved to assist the wounded. Riven threw an arm around an injured man’s shoulders, helping him stay upright. A few others carried those who could barely walk to the side. Haru stood silently, watching it all unfold. He could see the pain in their faces. Yet what caught his attention the most was Nihilos. Even amidst all this chaos, he remained a shadow of stillness.

Just then, a figure on the ground slowly lifted their head. Their face was covered in dirt, their bloodshot eyes filled with exhaustion. Forcing a weak smile at Seraphis, they asked, “We’re going to get through this… right? No more losses?”

Seraphis hesitated. The weight in his chest grew heavier, but he forced a small smile. “We will choose how to fight for the life we refuse to lose. But we must decide what kind of war this will be.”

Nihilos let out a deep laugh. “Let the world decide for you, Seraphis. Then we’ll see who was right.” He stepped forward, an amused glint in his eyes. “While we fight with all we have, what exactly are you doing? Trying to open a portal to a new world with some charlatan scientist? How logical is that, Seraphis? We are in the middle of a war, and you are still chasing empty dreams.”

Seraphis took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering as he met Nihilos’ eyes. “Logic? You, Nihilos, are trapped within the limits of this world. But we… we are not chasing empty dreams. If this is a dream, then explain to me, how is Haru here? He came from another world. Not by his own will, but through a fracture within the system itself. If a soul can escape from Orbis and emerge elsewhere, then so can we. We are not simply looking to escape, we are looking to build a new existence.”

Seraphis briefly glanced at Haru. “His very presence proves that fate is not absolute. He was never meant to be here, yet here he stands. And you cannot deny that, Nihilos.”

Azael’s eyes narrowed, his voice sharp and laced with disdain. “Haru? Who is he? Where did he come from?” There was both irritation and mockery in his tone.

Seraphis turned to face him, his voice calm but resolute. “Haru… does not belong to any fate we know. He comes from outside Orbis. He is an anomaly that the system itself cannot recognize. If this world cannot record his existence, then perhaps the boundaries of reality are far wider than we imagined. And this… may only be the beginning.”

Nihilos crossed his arms, digesting Seraphis’ words. Then, with a slight chuckle, he shook his head. “So, what? You’re trying to sell us hope just because a single boy exists? You really have reached the depths of desperation, Seraphis.” His voice grew darker, more cutting. “Is logic just standing still, watching as fate ensnares us? Or is it searching for a new path? We are not just fighting to survive. We are fighting for a new beginning. You, Seraphis, have become a man bound by the grudges of the past. But I… I am trying to build the future.”

                                                                                 ***

The atmosphere in Solace shifted abruptly. It began with a faint breeze, but soon, the wind intensified, swirling dust and debris through the air. At the heart of Solace, an invisible force seemed to be gathering, sparks crackling in midair. Streams of purple, red, and pink energy intertwined, forming a vortex. Expanding rings of energy pulsed outward, spiraling into a cyclone at the center.

And that cyclone was focused entirely around Haru.

As his feet lifted off the ground, panic surged through him. He flailed his arms wildly, desperately trying to regain balance, but something was pulling him upward. "What’s happening?!"

At that moment, Arbis was handing a drink to an injured man. When she glanced up and saw the scene unfolding, she sighed and rolled her eyes. "Ah! You all yelled so much, you scared Haru! Now weird things are happening again." She shook her head. "Pfft… I just hope you don’t end up breaking anything this time."

Haru was floating uncontrollably. "No… No, I’m not scared! This has nothing to do with—aaah!" Realizing he had completely lost control of his body, his eyes widened. "Okay… Maybe I am starting to get scared now! Someone get me down from here!"

Seraphis quickly assessed the situation, his voice turning firm as he gave instructions. "Alright, Haru, stay calm! Close your eyes and take deep breaths!"

Haru’s panic-stricken eyes darted around. "How am I supposed to close my eyes in this situation?!"

Seraphis’ voice grew sharper. "Just do it, Haru!"

Gritting his teeth, Haru squeezed his eyes shut. His chest rose and fell rapidly, but he forced himself to take a deep breath. One… two… three…

The surroundings suddenly settled. The vortex slowly dissipated, the energy pulses fading into stillness, and Solace fell into an eerie silence.

But there was one problem.

Haru was now plummeting toward the ground.

"Aaaaah!" he screamed as the wind rushed past his face, his arms flailing helplessly. The stone floor of Solace was getting closer and closer.

Riven saw him falling and reacted instinctively. "Damn it, I’ll catch you!" he shouted, lunging forward. But just as he reached out, his foot caught on a loose piece of rubble.

"No, no, no—!"

Riven tripped and crashed onto the ground, his face twisting in frustration. At that exact moment, Haru let out a final scream before landing directly on top of him, knocking the air from his lungs.

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

Laughter erupted throughout Solace. Arbis covered her mouth as she giggled, while Seraphis shook his head slightly, exhaling in amusement.

Riven, still pinned under Haru, furrowed his brows. "Seriously… Ever since you arrived, my dignity has been completely crushed, Haru."

Haru, still dazed, lifted his head with an apologetic smile. "Ah… Sorry?"