The silence that followed the battle was heavier than steel. Three hours had passed since the last echo of combat faded, leaving behind an atmosphere laden with pain and a suffocating bewilderment.
Acalia remained motionless beside Biel’s lifeless body. Her knees were dug into the earth, and her eyes—reddened and dry—refused to look away from the young Bearer’s pale face. Her mind was a loop of denial, unable to accept the cruel reality lying before her.
However, the funeral stillness was abruptly interrupted.
A bright light emerged from nowhere—not as a lightning bolt, but as a fracture in reality itself, illuminating the space with a celestial intensity that cast no shadows. From that pure radiation, a figure emerged.
It was Kaito.
A man of majestic bearing and an aura so imposing that the air seemed to draw back to make way for him. He wore a tunic that did not appear woven from thread, but made of the very shifting essence of the universe, with faint galaxies swirling in the folds of the fabric. He walked slowly toward Acalia, and his steps, though soft, resonated with a deep echo in the void.
Acalia tensed, instinctively shielding Biel’s body, her voice coming out as a trembling thread between surprise and extreme caution. "Who are you?"
Kaito stopped his advance and traced a slight smile, an expression conveying an incomprehensible peace. "My name is Kaito, and I am one of the three Rifilser." His tone was serene, almost solemn.
Acalia’s heart gave a violent thump against her ribs. Rifilser. She had heard stories, whispers in the most ancient texts about mythic entities that even the gods spoke of with reverence and fear. But having one stand before her was something her mind could barely process.
"The Rifilser?" she repeated, incredulous, suddenly feeling very small. "What are you?"
Kaito looked up at the sky, as if he could see through the layers of reality, before locking his eyes onto hers again. "We are the supreme authority of the universe and the Megaverse. We are the ones who make the rules in this world, above the gods themselves. What the gods consider inviolable laws, we wrote them."
The impact of his words hit Acalia, leaving her breathless. The idea that entities of such magnitude of power existed—architects of existence above the deities she knew—was a concept that overflowed her understanding.
"Above the gods...?" she murmured, trying to assimilate both the blasphemy and the truth at once. "I... I did not know this."
Kaito waved a hand dismissively, stripping the weight from the matter with staggering naturalness. "Well, that is not important for now."
Acalia observed him closely, searching for any sign of threat, but perceived only a mixture of absolute determination and compassion in his countenance. She knew the arrival of a being of this caliber could not be a coincidence. A spark of hope, painful and fragile, ignited in her chest. The possibility of Biel’s return was now intertwined with the mystery of this supreme figure.
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Kaito, noting the confusion and the whirlwind of questions in the girl’s mind, decided to clear the air. He took a step closer, his presence filling the space.
"Listen carefully, Acalia," his voice resonated with an undeniable authority that vibrated in the warrior’s bones. "This world, like all worlds in the Megaverse, has rules. Even death is not a definitive end, but a step toward a judgment."
Acalia raised her head, her eyes desperately seeking an answer. "A judgment? What are you talking about?"
Kaito nodded slowly, patience reflected in his gesture. "After death, human souls are taken to the Spiritual Plane, also known as the Garden of Enit. It is a place where souls are judged to determine their final fate: heaven or hell. This was not always the case, but everything changed due to a catastrophic event."
Acalia frowned, her strategist’s mind trying to connect the dots despite the pain. "What kind of event? Why was a judgment necessary?"
Kaito paused. His gaze drifted to the horizon, as if watching the past unfold before him in real time. "Long ago, humans could freely enter the Garden of Enit. But due to a conflict between the Demon Kings and an exceptionally ambitious human, the Goddess of Spirits, known as Yael, decreed that humans could only enter after death to be judged. It was her way of protecting that sacred place from future threats."
Acalia tilted her head, catching a peculiar nuance in his words. "Yael? That name sounds familiar, but... there is something else you aren't saying, isn't there?" Acalia narrowed her eyes, seeking the truth in the supreme being’s face.
Kaito traced a faint smile, a gesture that seemed to hold secrets older than time itself. "Yael is only one of the names she uses. In the Garden, she presents herself as Yael, the Queen and Sovereign of that domain. But her true name is Enit, and outside of that plane, she uses this identity. It is a way to distinguish her role as the Goddess of Spirits from her true essence."
The revelation fell over Acalia like a heavy mantle, leaving her momentarily speechless. Knowing that even gods hid aspects of their identity and operated under layers of names was a dizzying display of how complex the world they inhabited truly was.
"Then, what does this mean for Biel?" she finally asked, her voice barely a whisper laden with anxiety.
Kaito approached Biel’s body, which now looked completely restored, the wounds closed thanks to Acalia’s meticulous healing care. "It means his soul is now on the Path of Life. If he wishes to return to the earthly world, he must face Enit’s judgment and convince her that he deserves another chance. It is the only way."
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The silence that followed was nearly unbearable, dense and suffocating. Acalia looked at Kaito with a heartbreaking mix of hope and fear. As Kaito leaned over the inert body, an unnatural calm enveloped the place, freezing the wind. Acalia watched, nerves on edge, as the Rifilser placed an elegant hand upon the Fragment resting on Biel’s chest. The crystal emitted a faint glow at first, but soon began to resonate, vibrating with an increasingly intense energy that made the air hum.
"What are you doing?" Acalia asked, tensing every muscle, ready to intervene.
Without looking away from the Fragment, Kaito replied with unshakeable serenity: "The Fragment of the Infinite is much more than a simple artifact. Within it dwells a powerful essence: Monsfil, the Demon King of Eternal Destruction. He has a crucial role to play."
Acalia frowned. "We already know that. Monsfil helped us in the past, but why would he need to get involved again? What are you planning?"
Kaito pulled his hand away abruptly. In response, the Fragment exploded in a glow of such intensity that it bathed the entire place in blinding light. The energy began to swirl and take shape, projecting an imposing and ethereal figure before them: Monsfil. His shimmering armor and reddish eyes, glowing like embers in the dark, inspired both fear and respect.
"Monsfil," Acalia spoke in a firm tone, planting herself before him. "Are you willing to help him again?"
Monsfil’s projection tilted its head slightly toward her, recognizing the familiarity in her voice and her defiant stance. "We meet again, Acalia. My essence remains bound to the fate of this Fragment and, therefore, to Biel’s. This time, my intervention will be different."
Kaito cut in, his voice resonating with authority: "Monsfil is the only one who can guide Biel on the Path of Life. In that place, physical strength is irrelevant; what matters is the strength of the soul. Monsfil has the wisdom and the power necessary to help him overcome Enit’s judgment."
Monsfil turned his attention to Kaito, his eyes narrowing with an expression of analytical curiosity. "You speak as one who knows much more than he lets on. However, I accept the task—not for you, but because I believe Biel is capable of achieving what I could not."
"If this is what he needs to return, then do it," Acalia decided, stepping forward. "But be careful, Monsfil. Biel is not just a Bearer; he is someone who deserves a second chance."
Monsfil smiled slightly—a grimace that, for the first time, did not seem sinister, but full of iron determination. "Then there is nothing more to say. I will prepare his way."
The Fragment glowed once more, a vibrant pulse of pure energy, and Monsfil’s figure vanished into a flash of light absorbed by the crystal. Kaito stepped back elegantly.
"And now what?" Acalia asked softly.
"Now, we wait," Kaito replied. "Biel’s fate is in his own hands... and in Monsfil’s. But have faith, Acalia. Sometimes, even the most troubled souls find their way back."
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Meanwhile, beyond the physical sky, in the unreachable heights of the Threshold of the Gods, a meeting full of tension was taking place. Chronasis, the God of Time, watched an ethereal projection of the earthly plane.
"This alters the odds," he murmured, his kaleidoscope eyes narrowing. "One of the Rifilser, intervening directly... this is no minor event."
Nyxaris, the Goddess of Shadows, emerged from a corner. "Wasn't something like this to be expected? However, for them to take a side is... disturbing."
Elaris, the Goddess of Life, leaned forward from her throne of roots and light. "If Kaito intervened, it must be because he considers the balance of the universe to be in danger. Biel’s connection to the Fragment of the Infinite could change everything."
Solaryon, the God of Light, struck his scepter against the golden clouds. "This cannot be tolerated! If the Rifilser have decided to get involved, we should as well!"
Chronasis raised a hand, asking for calm. "Intervening without understanding the Rifilser's intentions could be a fatal error. I have seen what could happen: in some timelines, Biel becomes a savior; in others, he unleashes unimaginable chaos."
Veyrith, the God of Chaos, let out a soft, discordant laugh. "And isn't that exciting? Perhaps, this time, the Rifilser have underestimated the ramifications of their actions."
Arselturin, the God of Death, broke his silence. "Biel faces the Path of Life, a domain where even our influence is limited. Only Enit can decide his fate."
The Threshold fell into a heavy silence. Finally, Sylvaran, the God of Nature, spoke: "Then, let us wait. But remember, if the balance breaks, it will be our responsibility to restore it, regardless of the consequences."
While the gods deliberated, unaware of being watched, a hooded figure observed from the shadows of a higher dimension. Kaito, with an inscrutable expression, whispered to himself:
"The gods are also pieces on this board. But this time, they do not decide the game."
On the earthly plane, the Fragment of the Infinite shone with renewed intensity, marking the beginning of an era that would change the course of destiny.
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