Final Chapter: What Comes after the Ending?

The war had ended, with our victory.

Niobeorth’s control was gone.
Everyone was finally free.
And….I was forever cut off from my home.

Takayuki was right. I cannot return to Omnikuro. Not anymore. Me and Diana belong to this world now. I still carry my connection to Onlife, the HUD still lingers before my eyes, but the voices, the messages, the links to my friends are all silent. That door has been closed. It became unavailable.

When I struck Niobeorth down, everyone who had been summoned here were immediately teleported back and I never even got the chance to say goodbye.

The communication with Takayuki was also forever shut. I cannot call him and viceversa.

I felt like I was left behind in this world. And I don’t know how should I even feel, this was my decision and I shouldn’t feel any regret of my choice.

A week has passed since then. The continent of Ashalondaria is slowly rising again. Those who once hid in shadows can finally step into the light.

The King and Queen of Mondunion honored me as the  Savior of Ashalondaria and the Hero from the Outer World. Me and Diana live now within their kingdom, a place where everyone calls us family.

It feels like the ending of a game, where an epilogue usually plays, showcasing what each character is doing after the war. But unlike a game, this isn’t just told in words or pictures. We live it, we walk it and we breathe it.

And the truth is, what comes after the ending is something no story ever shows.

The kingdom has not stopped celebrating. For seven days and seven nights, the streets have been filled with laughter, music, and dancing. Every face shines with joy.

Today is Sunday, the final day of the week, I went outside of the kingdom.

I carried with me four candles, each bearing a name, and made my way to the mountain cliffs. At its edge stands a towering tree, ancient and alone.

Lady Merewyn told me that once, long ago, a shrine temple stood here before the war with the Dark Lord Krad. Now only ruins remain, yet the tree endures, watching silently over the world.

They call it the Tree of Solitude. A place where souls come seeking peace.
While the others rebuilt and rejoiced, I came here for a different purpose.

I thought I was alone, until Katarina and Diana revealed themselves. They had been following, stepping quietly from behind, catching me completely by surprise.

"Do you have a reason to come here?" Katarina asked, her voice calm but curious.

"Yes," I replied, holding the words carefully. "Today is the last day of the week."

I turned and showed them the four candles I had brought.

Katarina’s eyes softened. "The Embers of Remembrance…"

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I wanted to honor those who died."

Even Diana, usually cold, let her voice waver. "…That’s… rather honorable of you."

I looked at Katarina. "Is Princess Alina awake?"

Her expression fell. "Unfortunately, she hasn’t woken up."

"I’m sorry," I whispered.

"Why are you sorry?" Katarina asked gently.

"For everything," I said. "I had the ability to do anything… yet I wasted it on fighting Niobeorth."

Katarina shook her head. "It’s fine. Now that Niobeorth is gone, my sister is safe."

Takayuki once told me I had the power to do anything, once per day. But now, even with Niobeorth gone, even with the Nova Bloom surging through me, it no longer responds.

So I stood there, and Katarina and Diana stood with me.

I lit the first candle, for Adrian.
"Adrian… we didn’t start on the right foot. Honestly, I didn’t like you. I never realized how much you were struggling. In the end, it was your teachings that saved everyone. I’m sorry I hated you. I’m sorry I killed you. And I’m sorry I couldn’t save you."

Katarina lowered her eyes, the sadness plain on her face. I knew her heart was aching, not only for Adrian, but for Alina, who would carry this heartbreak forever.

"Don’t worry, Adrian," I whispered. "I’ll make sure Alina and Katarina don’t stay in sorrow, they will never be alone."

I lit the second candle, for Ysanthe.
"For many, you’ll be remembered as a traitor, the one who nearly doomed Mondunion and Ashalondaria. But not for me. In the end, you chose us. You saved my life. I don’t want to remember you as someone controlled by Niobeorth. I want to remember the courage you showed in your final moment. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you."

The third candle, for Jarrod, my best friend.
"I promised myself I’d bring you home. I failed. You lived longer than anyone expected, fighting, saving, protecting… you gave everything even your life, so we could survive. You could have survived. This is my way to say goodbye to you. You’ll always be remembered, not just as my best friend, but as a savior and my brother."

Then Diana’s eyes fell on the fourth candle. "May I ask? Who is that one for?" she asked softly.

I lit it. While answering her question, "Niobeorth."

Katarina and Diana both looked at me in shock. Their reaction made sense? why honor the one who had caused so much suffering?
If I have to be honest, I was also surprised myself.

"For you, Niobeorth… so many died. My friends was among them. Countless people suffered because of you. But I can’t place all the blame on you. People’s fear turned you into a monster. They made you into something you never wanted to be. Because of them, you became the very shadow Merewyn feared. She tried to protect you until the end."

I paused, letting the flame dance.

"You could have killed me, but you stopped, you hesitated. I want to believe you did that because you wanted it to end, not just for me to free everyone, but for you to finally be free as well. I want to believe Merewyn’s words… that somewhere inside, you were still yourself and that was the proof that you were, at the very least."

When the four eulogies were finally spoken, I set the candles gently on the ground before the great tree.

The flames flickered softly in the mountain wind.

Katarina’s voice broke the silence.
"It will take time… for the candles to rise."

So we decided to leave.

Suddenly, a message appeared on my HUD. Diana looked back at me.
"Are you coming?" she asked.

"Yeah… you girls go on. I still need to do something."

They exchanged a confused glance but didn’t question it.

I stayed behind, standing alone in the open training ground.

My HUD kept on flickering. An incoming call. It was from Takayuki.

My chest tightened. How? I thought I was forever cut off from Omnikuro. How is this possible? I couldn’t even call them.

I pressed the icon.

"Takayuki?"

"Is that you, Gygaverne?"

"Yeah… but how is this possible? I thought I had no connection left."

"You don’t. I managed to retrieve the last surviving Everett Stone. It’s crumbling fast, and it only works for communication. Nothing more."

For a moment, I just stood there, listening to his voice.

"You know," I said quietly, "I thought there was a chance to go back. But If I have to be honest, I don’t mind staying here. The people of this world… they’re great people. They call me the Savior of Ashalondaria. It feels strange not knowing what comes next."

Takayuki sighed. "This is all my fault. You sacrificed everything to save both our worlds. This problem was my hand causes, and involved thousand of people. With all the resources i go, I can’t bring you back… but I can at least fulfill your wish."

"Wish?" I muttered. "Honestly, I don’t even know what I want."

"If I remember right, the reason you wanted to join Alchemy & Alloy was because of that challenge I mentioned years ago. The one with the five-million-dollar prize."

"So you do have it?"

"I have more than that," he admitted. "But this… this is my way of thanking you for saving Diana, and apologizing for making you stay in Ashalondaria. And beyond that, I’m keeping Onlife running."

"Why?"

"Because your data is still there. It shows you’re active. This way, everyone will know you’re alive and well — still connected, even from far away."

I exhaled, my voice low. "Thank you. But the money… five million won’t change anything now."

"Then tell me what to do with it," Takayuki said firmly. "It’s yours."

I closed my eyes. "Give it to Terrence and his friends. They’re a hell of a team — I hope they keep being themselves and never change, except for the awful amount of profanities, they need to tone it down. To Aster and Thor… Aster, our relationship ended abruptly, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault. Maybe things could have been great. At least I’m glad she had my back. No matter please don’t change who you are, you were always perfect from the moment we met.”

To Stephanie and Mayu… let this be my apology for failing Ysanthe. She was one of the bravest people I knew. Remember her as a friend and as a hero. I am sorry.

And last, to Judeth. She’s already lost one friend, and now with me gone it’ll feel like she lost another. I don’t want her to feel alone. I don’t want her to think I abandoned her. This is my way of telling her that even from far away, I still think of her. Just… please make sure she lives and that she could finally move on."

Takayuki was silent for a moment. "…Is that all?"

"Actually, no." My throat tightened. "There’s one more."

"Ask it."

"It’s the real reason I joined Onlife, the reason I came into the Inner Circle, the reason I wanted to enter Ashalondaria. All my life I lived with regrets. I thought I had destroyed two people’s love. One of them… she’s still alive. She’s waiting for me outside.

"But the other… she’s still fighting, even in her sleep. So please. Use it to cover my sister’s medical bills."

"Don’t worry, Jack," Takayuki said firmly. "I’ll send enough to cover everything."

I let out a long breath. "Thank you, Takayuki."

Then I glanced at the time. "There’s still a little left. Do you want me to bring Diana to talk with you?"

"No," he said quickly.

"But why? She’s your daughter—"

"After everything I’ve done, I don’t deserve it. I caused so many deaths, so much suffering. My obsession cost me my wife… and now it’s cost me my daughter. She won’t forgive me."

"She will. You still have thirty seconds, I can—"

"I neglected her, Jack. If I hadn’t been consumed with finding my wife, I wouldn’t have left Diana behind."

"There’s still time—"

"It’s fine. All I ask is that you stay by her side. Don’t let her be alone anymore. She has you now."

I lowered my head, closed my eyes, and whispered, "I’ll take care of her."

"…Thank you," Takayuki said.

"And please," I added, "make sure my friends and family will be fine."

"They will be. Don’t worry."

"…Goodbye, Takayuki."

"Goodbye…..Gygaverne."

The connection ended. This time, the tether was gone for good.

I lifted my head. The wind stirred, carrying the scent of flowers, leaves spinning through the air. I let it wash over me, one last reminder of Omnikuro fading into the breeze.

Then I turned and walked away.

At the temple gates, Katarina and Diana were waiting.

When I saw their faces, it reminded me of all the family and friends I had made, in Omnikuro, in Onlife, and here in Ashalondaria.

"Come on, girls," I said with a faint smile. "Let’s go back to Mondunion. They need our help."

Because no matter where I am, in the virtual world, in real life, or in another world, I know now that I am never alone.

Thanks to everyone I fought with, and everyone I fought for.

I walk forward without regret.

And though this chapter closes, I can feel it, my story in Ashalondaria is far from over.