Prologue

As the crescent moon lighten the starry sky, its gentle glow guide my way through the darkness. At the end of my descent, you stood waiting, gazing at the raging sea. Struck by a deep curse of obsession, you stood above countless bodies, the innocent victims of your bloodied sword.

"Master, I have come," I greeted you in vain. As you turned to me, I realized years had passed and you had changed.

You were once a hero, a beacon of hope for the people, but now you've been cursed by an obsession. You wish to end all your suffering, not through the strength of people but by realizing The Ideal White, the omnipotent magic that could grant every wish. But for that wish, you had lost yourself. And a wish from a lost person could only lead to destruction, just like what we had witnessed in the wars of gods.

However, our promise on that starry night guided my will. We promised if one of us lost ourselves in the temptation and seek Ideal White, the other shall be the last bastion of the world. That was why, this foolish student of yours will stop you from reaching The Ideal White, Master.

-- "Listen, Celli. Use your blade to protect, not to hurt. To empower, not to weaken. To save, not to kill. To free, not to enslave. By mastering that principle, I believe you could reach the true meaning of Raven Style, which is True Freedom." --

Your first teaching echoed inside my heart as I drew my blade. This is the chance to show you everything I had learned.

"I am Cellia Vanadis, grandmaster of The Raven Style and The Devil who guards the Ideal White," I declared, my blade at the ready. "Tell me your name, Hero."

You looked at me with eyes filled with fake light, cursed by the gods for vain power... It was such a pity because I once loved the sea of stars in your eyes. But now, it was tainted by the Curse of Hero.

"Arrghhh, Celliiii!!!" Without honor, you lunged at me, slashing at me with your fast-paced attack. The clash of our swords echoed through the barren wasteland, a testament to the power we both possessed. As our blades met, flowers of flame erupted with each strike, leaving behind a trail of destruction to what was left of Earth.

But when my blade cut through your mottled skin, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness deep within my heart. My mind wandered back to our precious memories.

Toward that moment, you embraced me and saved me from the gods' cruelty. You accepted me, a monster, with warmth and kindness, even though the world tried to punish me.

Toward that moment, when you taught me the way of the sword, the way of protecting the world. You taught me, a sinner, the redemption of my sin through protecting the gentle heart of humanity.

Toward that moment, when we completed each other with love. You gave me happiness that I never deserve.

Yet destiny tore us apart. I, who bathed in the sea of gods' blood, awakened as the First Devil. And you, chosen by The Loom of Fate, rise to become the First Hero. By killing the Devil, you would ascend as a god, reaching The Ideal White and saving the world. But, you choose to save me.

You choose to believe in the strength of humanity, that they could save the world without the help of Ideal White. But, in the end, the world betrayed you again and again. Even then, you stood firmly, protecting me with your life... until finally, you were corrupted and left in this state.

Forgive me, Master. If only we never met and fell in love. If only, I wasn't a coward that sealed herself in the realm of gods. Would everything turn different now? Would you be happy?

"...!"

You deflected my sword. Even though you were corrupted, your mastery of the sword was still unparalleled. You effortlessly broke through my defenses and thrust your sword toward my heart. By then, your final lesson echoed in my mind.

-- "Celli, you're too kind to wield the sword. Your gentle heart would always be the final hurdle for you to master the sword."--

I caught your blade with a determined grip, a smile on my lips despite the blood gushing from my hand. I raised my other arm, using my control over my blood to form a giant spike that caught you off guard. In that split second, I formed a bloody sword in my hand and was ready to end this fight.

-- "However that gentle heart means you could be a stronger sword master than me. I believe you will reach true freedom, Celli."--

My hand ignited with a fierce flame, fueled by the intensity of my determination. I charged my power for one strike, knowing that this would be the moment that would determine the fate of the world.

"Everything you have taught, everything that you gave me, every time you protected me... This will be my gratitude to you," I whispered as I released all of my power in one burst of magic, "Raven Style Finale: World Crusher!!"

The force of my attack summoned a divine sword that sent shockwaves through the air, rattling the very foundations of reality itself. You tried to block it with your sword, but then your sword shattered to pieces. As the light of destruction came closer, you gaze at me and showed me your final smile.

"... Celli.... please... forget me."

BLAST!!!

A swarm of blue butterflies flung toward me as your body turned to dust. As they caressed my cheek gently, their touch was as warm as yours had been when I first swore my oath to you.

Clutching my crystal heart, I reenacted my oath to you,

"... I promise you, I will not be corrupted or fall. I will protect The Ideal White from all Heroes. None shall ever ascend the throne of gods as long as I live. None shall enslave the world ever again," I said as my hand tried to reach you for the last time,

"... That's why, you can finally rest now, Master."

But then I kneeled to the ground and cried, as my endless samsara began. I lost the love of my life, I lost the thing I wanted to protect, but then I was chained by fate to be its guardian.

Yes, this is my punishment. For a goddess who killed her own kin, for a student who killed her Master, for a woman who killed her beloved, I had committed the greatest sin of all. And the price of that sin was my freedom.

To eternity, the price would never be paid enough.

...!

I opened my eyes and run toward the final butterflies, clutching to the last pieces of you. "Axel... Axel...! Forgive me... I can't after all. I just can't! How can I live without you?" I cried yet cruel and cold, the chain of world pulled me away from you.

It took away the memories that I held cherish, but also caused me unbearable pain. Yet with bloodied hand, I tried to reach the butterfly, the piece of your memories. But then I realized....

"Who... are you?"