Epilogue : Forever and Ever

“Open your eyes, Iwao. We must talk.”

A yawn escaped Iwao’s mouth as he stretched his arms and opened his eyes, blinded by the powerful light of the space he was in.

He looked around and saw nothing until he spun in a full circle. Before him appeared an industrial shelter: steel walls, barrels spilling their contents, a nauseating stench, and an overall air of misery that made the place oppressive. Everything was gray, and a single black door stood in the middle of the building. Iwao walked toward it, reaching for the handle.

When he gripped it firmly, nausea overwhelmed him, and he vomited blood onto the ground. He trembled violently, clutching his head as if wracked with unbearable pain.

“These memories… this shelter… it’s where that terrible night – the one that started it all – happened. Why do you trap me in this endless cycle, creature…? What do you want from me…? Have I not done enough…? Have I not suffered enough…? Let me rest! Let me have peace, at least for an instant.” Iwao uttered, his voice trembling, fear sinking deep into his face as he spoke.

“Open that door! Come here! You can’t resist me. I am your master here. Your mind is mine. Your fate is in my hands!” A voice shouted from behind the door.

“I know you’re behind this door, creature. Why did you just send me the memories of that night again, at this very instant…? Why did you force me to relive my death…? Why… why are these happy memories of my mother being sent into my mind now? What do you want from this…? Why make me suffer by showing me how I was a failure, by reminding me of everything that broke me?” Iwao thought, tears spilling from his eyes.

He crouched, curling into himself while still holding the handle tightly. He tried to let go, but it was as if his hand were glued to it. He pulled harder and harder, panic rising within him.

But despite his efforts, he couldn’t release the handle. Instead, his hand slowly began to turn it left. The sound of the lock clicking open echoed in his ears.

The door creaked open with a deafening squeal, a thick stream of white smoke pouring out of the shelter.

“My hand’s not reacting… No, please, I don’t want to go in there. Let me wake up!” Iwao shouted in panic, clawing at his hand with the other, trying desperately to pry it free.

Suddenly, his hand released the handle. But before he could react, the smoke surged back at him, hurling him inside onto the concrete floor of the shelter and slamming the door shut behind him with a loud bang. The stench of the room hit his nostrils, twisting his face in disgust. He gagged and vomited again.

“It’s smells like charred flesh... mixed with rot…” He thought.

The room was darker than black. Only two dim neon lights faintly illuminated the space. Pinching his nose against the stench, Iwao looked around, searching for something. Nothing was visible – not even the door he had entered through, which had now vanished into the darkness. Under each light stood a simple wooden chair, facing the other.

He forced himself to his feet and staggered to the nearest one, gripping its back for balance as his legs shook. He glanced at the other chair, but it was empty. There was no trace of the creature that had called him.

He clutched his forehead, breathing deeply, his trembling slowly subsiding.

Suddenly, a cold hand gripped his shoulder from behind, and a chilling breath swept over him, causing him to shiver uncontrollably.

“I had to bring you here. When I must congratulate you, I have to do it face to face!” The creature said, its chilling, evil laugh growing louder and more menacing.

Iwao froze, paralyzed, his face twisted with fear. The creature’s strength forced him onto the chair, holding him down, immobile. He stared forward as the creature moved into view, sitting heavily in the opposite chair with a terrifying rattle.

Iwao’s eyes fixed on its horns – and more precisely, on what was between them.

“Why does it have that? It’s…”

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

“It wore the same thing in that nightmare back then… it already had it… Is this just a projection of my mind? Or is it taking things from my memories just to unsettle me by showing them…? I don’t know… But why does it carry the rope with the bright rocks if it never had the pendant? I don’t understand… I want to get out of here…” Iwao thought, panic rising as he tried to stand. His legs, weak as marshmallows, collapsed beneath him, forcing him back into the chair.

The creature rolled a rock between its hands, passing it back and forth as it stared at Iwao, who looked around in panic.

“What a shame – truly. Last time we met, I thought I had given you enough rage, enough motivation to fortify your mind. But instead, you’ve only gotten worse.” It said with disdain.

It hurled the rock at Iwao, striking him squarely in the head. It forced him to focus on the creature glaring at him with rage. He hid behind his arms, peering at it through one trembling eye.

“Look at you! This is who you really are. You hide behind a semblance of armor on the outside, but inside, you are still the same – fearful and suffering. The only one you’re deceiving by trying to hide this is yourself.” The creature roared, leaping to its feet and advancing on him.

Iwao collapsed to the ground, curling up tightly behind his arms. His body shook violently, and his sobs grew louder and louder.

The creature crouched beside him.

“But at least, I have to say you helped in my vengeance. You’re just starting to get used to these powers, not yet having them all, and yet you’re doing great. You’re weak-minded, but your will, your intelligence, and your strength are impressive. Maybe someone else would have been better, but I think I can make something out of you!” It laughed.

It grabbed Iwao by the shoulders and shook him violently, forcing him to lower his arms and meet the creature’s terrifying gaze, his face contorting as he saw that chilling smile and those two bloody eyes.

“We’re just getting started! You will do more and more for me! You’re mine – my object, my toy!” It shouted joyfully.

Iwao’s tears dried, and a confused expression appeared on his face as the creature let go and rose.

“I’m not free... No… I remember now… You’re doing this to torture me. You’re making me relive my memories and witness yours, just to disturb me and make me suffer – right when I thought I could finally rest… I’m not free… I’m just following your will… You wanted to kill all the descendants of the one who killed you… And because of me… Saya had to die… and now… since I killed the king… there are no more descendants… The vengeance I was meant to take for myself was fed also by you…” Iwao whispered, panic crossing his face.

“That is entirely correct. But take this as a lesson. They say despair makes you grow. Grow mentally strong – I need you to do this. Even if you don’t want to follow my words, the world you live in now will force you to do so. You’ll be forced to evolve. You’ll be forced to grow stronger. You wanted rest? I can give you some. After all, I haunt you, terrify you, and influence you – but you’re still fairly free to do what you want. Feel free to rest for the moment, but the problems will soon come for you. Don’t wait until they arrive.” It replied to Iwao’s complaint.

“I’ll then force myself to die… finding a way… forcing you to disappear with me…” Iwao said, sobbing, though his voice remained steady and he measured every word.

The creature’s ears shuddered. It turned its gaze to Iwao quickly and leapt at his throat, lifting him into the air. It then slammed Iwao’s body against the wall, shattered it on the contact. It continued its assault through the pure white space, choking him.

All around him, voices echoed – the voices of the people he cared about. The creature hurled him onto the ground. Iwao coughed and spat blood.

Suddenly, images began appearing all over the white space. They were memories – yet only the sorrowful, desperate moments Iwao had endured since his reincarnation unfolded before him. Everywhere he looked, another memory emerged – Saya’s death, his own death, near-death experiences, the people he had scared, and everything else.

Iwao was overwhelmed as each memory repeated endlessly, voices constantly calling his name, replaying through these images all the desperation of his life. He clutched his head, breathing quickly, fear invading his body and twisting hardly his face.

He turned his head and saw the creature's enraged face, a menacing aura radiating from it. A sudden shock coursed through him when he saw it, and then he tried to crawl away.

“You wish to die? Don’t say that anymore! You can’t die! I’ll always prevent you from doing it. Forever and ever! You understand? The more you act like this, the angrier I get. Push it further and I will make your mind suffer even more than just showing you this terrible memories.” It shouted in fury, roaring as it advanced toward Iwao’s crawling body.

Iwao was terrified, crawling faster and faster, tumbling each time he tried to stand. The creature closed in.

Fear intensified.

Panic distorted his face.

His breathing accelerated.

His field of vision narrowed.

His heart pounded so hard it felt as if it might burst out from his chest.

The creature struck him with a single, powerful punch.

Iwao fell, and just before losing consciousness, he heard a few words from the creature.

“Forever and ever I’ll haunt you. Forever and ever… you’ll fear me.”

Everything went black.

Iwao woke with a start and a loud scream, soaked in sweat and tears. He glanced around – Lo and Celi were still sleeping heavily as the day began to rise. He clutched his head and laughed awkwardly, tears shimmering in his eyes. His entire body radiated sadness.

He looked out the window, staring at the three rising suns, struggling to swallow. Despite the tears filling his mouth, he managed to mutter a few words.

“Well...seems like I can still have nightmares”

ARC 5: If War Is What You Want | Finished

Volume 1: End