Infinite Returns

Volume Two: (V2.1)

Chapter 25: Julie & Jade

Somewhere Inside the Tower

A floor untouched by any being.

Here, only two colors existed: white and pink.

At the center of this limitless world, a woman reclined, her white hair and empty gaze piercing through reality.

Her fingers moved with grace, brewing a tea so valuable it could buy the entire planet Earth a million times over—and still fall short.

She lifted the cup—

And then, she stopped.

Her head tilted.

With a snap of her fingers, a translucent screen appeared before her.

A young man stood in darkness, moments away from his first trial.

Ethan.

Her lips parted slightly.

"Oh my."

Her voice was smooth, sweet—but cold, utterly emotionless.

She studied the screen, eyes narrowing.

"A blessing from a Higher Being… on an E-rank mortal?"

How rare.

Her fingers tapped against the porcelain of her cup.

But the real intrigue?

She couldn't see who the blessing belonged to.

Her smile curved, slow and cold.

That was impossible.

Only those monsters could hide from her sight.

"Is he their pawn?"

She pondered for a moment, then smirked.

No matter.  

"Let's see how you handle your trials, 'Giver of the People.'"

If he was worthy—

If he proved himself—

Then she would make her move.

After all, eternity was so dreadfully dull.

And she loved a good game.

…

Inside a Moving Carriage

The air inside the carriage was thick with tension.

Julie sat with her arms crossed, her crimson eyes burning.

Jade, on the other hand, was calm.

Too calm.

It was the calm before a bloodbath.

Jade sighed.

She had to get this over with.

So, with no hesitation—

"Julie, my daughter."

Julie turned, clearly uninterested.

Jade met her gaze and dropped the bomb.

"I love Ethan. And I plan to be with him."

Silence.

Complete, dead silence.

Julie just… stared.

As if her brain had shut down completely.

Then—

"…What?"

Her voice shook.

Jade sighed, as if this were just another normal conversation.

"You heard me. I love Ethan. And I plan to be with him."

Then—

BOOM.

Julie's aura exploded.

Blood-red energy surged around her, cracking the air itself.

B-rank. Powerful. Deadly.

But in front of Jade—an S-rank—

It was nothing.

Julie's voice rose, her hands clenching into fists.

"You're married to my father! Have you no shame?!"

Jade flicked her fingers. A sound barrier wrapped around the carriage.

No one outside would hear this questionable conversation.

Then, with calm precision—

"You know how your father treats me."

Julie froze.

Jade's voice didn't rise. It didn't break.

It just hit.

"You, of all people, should understand what I'm feeling."

Julie clenched her jaw.

Because she did.

She knew what Ethan was to her.

And now her mother was saying the same thing.

Jade leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper.

"I am a woman, Julie. And a woman wants to be loved."

"To be cared for."

"To be protected."

"Not to be treated like… a breeding animal."

Julie's breathing slowed.

Because she understood that more than anyone. Their family was twisted.  

But—

"He's my husband."

Jade chuckled.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic. You know what our family is the most famous for after our bloodthirsty nature."

Julie glared.

Jade continued.

"I won't be his wife. I don't care about titles. I just want to be with him."

Then, casually—

"Besides, we kissed already."

Julie's brain shut down.

Her eyes widened.

Her entire aura cracked.

Jade smirked.

"Oh? You didn't know?"

Julie's hands trembled.

"…You kissed him?"

Jade laughed softly.

"Almost did more, actually."

Julie snapped.

"YOU WHORE—"

A spear of blood formed in her hands.

She lunged.

Jade simply sighed.

The moment the spear got close—

It disintegrated. As a S rank, her control over blood is nothing like Julie.  

Jade snapped her fingers.

Blood-red chains erupted from the air, locking Julie in place.

Julie thrashed, glaring.

Jade tilted her head, voice amused.

"Oh dear. Are you really trying to kill your mother?"

Julie growled.

"HOW DARE YOU KISS HIM BEFORE ME?!"

Jade's smirk widened.

"…Oh?"

Julie froze.

Jade leaned in, whispering.

"So that's the real problem?"

Julie bit her lip.

Jade chuckled.

Then, mercilessly, with her gaze lustful—

"Would you like to know how his lips taste?"

Julie's brain stopped functioning.

Her rage vanished.

Jade watched, delighted.

Then—

Julie's mouth moved on instinct.

"Yes. Yes, I want that."

Jade smirked.

Truly a lost cause.

She sighed, shaking her head.

"…And to think I'm the one who's supposed to be the shameless one."

Julie snapped back to reality.

"SHUT UP."

Jade laughed.

This was so much fun.

Truly, the Bloodsanguine family was a mess.

And she loved it.

Because it permit her to be with her daughter's husband.

"I guess I have to call you sister now?"

Julie paused. She looked deadpan to her mother who sat there comfortably her smirk widening.  

"You fucking whore."

Dit-elle.

Chapter 26 : The first trial

{Your first trial will start.}

That's what Ethan heard before finding himself in an entirely new place.

A ruined battlefield.

The ground was scorched. Smoke lingered in the air, and the moans of the wounded and desperate filled the silence. Scattered corpses and shattered weapons of all kinds.

The soil was still soaked with fresh blood.

The battle had clearly ended not long ago.

Ethan took in the sight, his heart aching. It was his first time seeing such a cruel scene.

Instinctively, he willed his inventory to open—ready to help those struggling to survive.

But—

"Wait, what?"

He couldn't open it.

{You are not allowed to use anything except what the Tower has provided in this trial.}

{Your talents and skills have been locked.}

He stopped. Looked around.

Beside him, a small wooden cart sat filled with supplies—just enough to help a few.

But far from enough for everyone.

Seeing this, Ethan immediately understood.

{Floor 1: Special Trial}

{Help the ones truly in need.}

{Reward: One skill}

He sighed.

He had to choose.

He had to decide who needed help the most.

He looked at his small wooden cart. At best, he could help three people.

Out of thousands.

"…Hell."

Ethan was struggling. He felt limited.

As someone who spent without thinking, without worrying about price or quantity—this trial was pushing him to the edge.

He sighed. Again.  

…

As he walked through the battlefield with his cart, they noticed him.

The moment they saw his fair skin, clean clothes, and supplies—

They rushed him.

"Sir! Good sir! Please help me, my sister is dying of hunger!"

A gaunt boy—barely ten years old—clutched at his sleeve, his hollow eyes filled with desperation.

Before Ethan could respond, another voice cut in.

"Please—just some medicine to heal my wounds. If I don't get it, I won't make it."

A grizzled soldier, bloodied and weak, grabbed his wrist.

Then it began.

More people swarmed him.

More voices pleaded.

Each person cried out their suffering, begging to be chosen.

Ethan felt dizzy.

His mind blurred with their voices.

He couldn't think. Couldn't focus.

"STOP!"

His voice boomed over the chaos, stunning them into silence.

He took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry."

"I can only help three people. And I'll pick the three most desperate situations."

Outrage.

That's what filled their faces.

"How are you going to decide that, huh?! For all we know, you'll pick a liar, a scammer—and someone truly in need will die because of it!"

A young woman stepped forward, her face streaked with blood and tears.

Her pain was real, her rage was real.

And she wasn't alone.

The crowd turned against him.

They yelled.

They cursed.

They begged.

Ethan watched them.

His face stayed calm.

But inside, his heart ached.

He wanted to help them all. But he couldn't.

Then he noticed something.

Some people were escalating the chaos on purpose.

And among the crowd—

A woman sat motionless against a broken wagon.

Unlike the others, she didn't reach out.

She didn't plead.

Her lips were parched. Her breathing was shallow.She clutched her stomach—where a deep wound bled freely.

She was dying.

And she had already accepted it.

Then, he saw another woman crying for medicine for her "husband."

But the man beside her was already dead.

And finally—

The boy with his starving sister.

The soldier with his wounds.

Ethan took it all in.

And at the end—

I see.  

"I have chosen."

His voice cut through the crowd.

"The boy with his sister."

"The silent woman by the wagon."

"The soldier who asked for medicine."

As he spoke, his chest tightened.

He saw their reactions.

Some people despaired.

Some raged.

Some… simply gave up.

Because they knew—They wouldn't make it.

Ethan's fists clenched.

He knew some of them were faking it, trying to guilt tripping him.

But he also knew that among them were real, desperate souls.

People he wouldn't be able to save.

That was the true test.

He was someone who gave. Someone who helped.

But he couldn't save everyone.

A fact.  

So he had to learn to choose.

To close his heart when necessary.

To see past pleas and deception.

To know that not all who beg are truly in need.

And not all who remain silent lack suffering.

{Trial Completed.}

A notification appeared.

{Reward: Eye of Discernment (B)}

Then The Tower speak to him.  

{What is generosity without wisdom?

Blind kindness is but another form of cruelty. Distribute what you have—but choose well.

Not all who beg are truly in need, and not all who remain silent lack suffering.

So give wisely, O Giver of the People.}

Ethan exhaled.

His hands still trembled. His heart still ached.

But his mind—

Was sharper than ever.

Chapter 27: The Trial of the Lost

The world around Ethan blurred again, colors bleeding into nothingness.

When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in the middle of a forest. The trees were tall, their thick branches intertwining overhead, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A faint mist curled around his feet, cool against his skin.

Silence.

Then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

{You are in the rest zone between trials. Time here does not matter.}

{You may stay as long as you wish. If you are ready to continue, simply will it.}

Ethan exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing.

A rest zone.

He glanced around. Nothing but trees and mist. No threats. No people. Just solitude.

He was alone with his thoughts.

And he needed that.

The first trial had been… harsh. It was simple on the surface, yet brutal on its lesson.  

It wasn't about strength. It wasn't about combat. It was a lesson. A brutal, unavoidable lesson.

To give without wisdom is the height of foolishness.

Some people don't deserve kindness.

Some refuse it.

Some need it—but on their own terms.

Blind generosity wasn't noble. It was dangerous.

Ethan's fingers curled into a fist.

He had chosen this path. The moment he received his system, he had decided— even if it was a joke — He would be a Saint.

A Saint to the people.

To aid them.

To support them.

To protect them.

To elevate them.

He was the Kingmaker. He is the One Who uplift people.

And if he wasn't careful in who he helped, in who he raised up…

He could just as easily create a tyrant.

"Blind kindness is but another form of cruelty."

Ethan closed his eyes, letting those words sink in.

Then, he spoke softly.

"Lesson learned, dear Tower."

The atmosphere in the rest zone eased. As if the tower is responding to him.  

Ethan chuckled.  

"System, show me my profile. It's been a while."

A translucent screen materialized before him.

[Profile: Ethan Yagami]

• Age: 15 years old  

• Rank: E+

• Talent: Heart of Benevolence (B-Grade)

• Affinity: Water (S-Grade)

• Attributes:

• Strength: E

• Agility: E

• Constitution: E+

• Perception: E+

• Mana: E+

• Intelligence: D+

[Inventory]

• Platinum Coins (x99,999,999)

• Cinderheart of the Eternal Dragon (Stage-3 God)

• Eye of Sagacity (Legendary)

• Hand of Midas (Legendary)

Ethan's gaze landed on the Cinderheart of the Eternal Dragon.

"Ah… the x10,000 return for the true dragon blood I gave away."

A smirk tugged at his lips.

Not bad. Should be perfect for Lucas right ?

Of course, he'd also need to get a potion to help Lucas withstand the transformation. He wasn't about to hand over something so powerful without preparing for the consequences.

"Show me my skills."

[Skills]

Talent Skills:

• Aura of Devotion (Passive): Your presence commands peace, trust, and respect.

• Gift of Benevolence (Active): When you give something, you may create a duplicate for yourself.

• Divine Sanctuary (Active): Your barrier can now protect multiple people.

Acquired Skills:

• Eye of Discernment (Passive - B-Rank): Enhances perception. Deception and illusions are significantly harder to fool you with.

Ethan leaned back, studying the screen.

His talent had evolved in those last 5 years.  

"Gift of Benevolence" now lets him duplicate anything he gives away.

That was insane. He suddenly remember something. He let out a quiet chuckle.

"System, I think your days of eating my karmic points are coming to an end."

The system, as usual in the past days, didn't respond.

Ethan's gaze lingered on his skills.

Five years. Five years. He had barely grown stronger. But now, after just one trial, he had already gained a skill—and something more important:

Understanding.

His Divine Sanctuary had evolved too like his other two skills. Now, it could shield multiple people depending on how much goodwill he held for them.

His Eye of Discernment was like a passive version of Eye of Sagacity. Always active. Always alert.

He exhaled.

Fighting wasn't his thing.

He didn't enjoy battle. He didn't seek it. But…

This was the Tower.

There would be times when he'd be alone. Like today.  

No Mei.

No Ellie.

No one to protect him.

If he wanted to climb, if he wanted to survive, he needed a way to fight.

Something that fit him. But he didn't know how. He can do as his family and choose to be either swordsman or mage.  

Or both.  

Maybe theses trials would give him a clue.

…

Ethan lay back, staring at the sky.

His thoughts drifted.

"I wonder how they're doing… my wives… my parents."

A small smile appeared on his lips.

He missed them already. But there was no time to dwell on that.

He sat up, exhaling slowly. His eyes sharpened, filled with quiet determination.

No need to waste time.  

"Tower, take me to the second trial."

The moment the words left his lips, the world around him shifted.

{Your second trial will begin shortly.}

The trees blurred. The mist dissolved.

When the world settled, Ethan was standing in the middle of a vast labyrinth.

Cold stone walls stretched endlessly in every direction. The air was thick, heavy, unnatural.

All around him, wisps flickered—glowing, translucent figures, drifting aimlessly through the corridors.

A single message appeared before him.

{Second Trial: The Trial of the Lost}

{Free the souls from their torment and guide them to the next life.}

{Give them peace, O Giver.}

{Reward: A Key to the Soul Realm.}

Ethan stood still.

Watching. Listening.

He had no idea what to do.

Chapter 28: The Weight of the Lost

Ethan stood motionless, his gaze locked onto the drifting, wisp-like forms before him.

They weren't just wisps.

They were souls.

Each one a fragment of a life once lived, now trapped in this labyrinth of sorrow.

But how was he supposed to free them?

How could he give them peace?

He had no idea.

Instinctively, he checked his skills and inventory.

'All intact. Perfect.'

Then, with no other choice, he began to walk.

The labyrinth stretched infinitely in every direction, its walls shifting like living shadows. The deeper Ethan ventured, the thicker the air became—filled with whispers.

Soft. Endless.

Voices of the lost.

Some murmured in confusion.

Some called for people who were long gone.

Some simply… screamed.

Floating lanterns lined the corridors, their glow weak and flickering, like dying stars struggling to stay alight.

Ethan took it all in, a chill running down his spine.

"This place is eerie."

And the further he walked, the darker it became.

The light vanished.

The whispers grew louder.

Shadows pressed in.

Ethan stopped.

He was wandering aimlessly. And more importantly—no one here seemed to notice him.

Not even the lost souls.

So, he took the initiative.

He approached the nearest soul—a small girl, curled up in a corner, trembling violently.

Her body flickered, transparent.

Her lips moved in a whisper, repeating something over and over.

"The monsters will take me… Mother… Father… where are you… I'm afraid…"

Ethan crouched beside her.

"Uh… hey, can I help you?"

No response.

She didn't even look at him.

She just sat there, shivering like a leaf, her voice never stopping.

Ethan frowned.

She was suffering. He could see it. But if she couldn't hear him—if she couldn't even acknowledge his presence—how was he supposed to help?

His gaze lowered to her hands.

There was only one way to find out.

He reached forward and touched her.

The moment his fingers brushed hers—

His world shattered.

Ethan's vision twisted, dragging him into an illusion.

He was there. Inside her memories.

A house on fire.

Flames consuming wood and flesh alike.

Figures in black masks stormed through the halls, cutting down everyone in their path.

Merciless. Unstoppable.

People screamed.

Blood splattered across the floors, across the walls, soaking the very earth.

And then, in the middle of it all—

A girl.

Kneeling.

Her eyes bleeding golden tears, her small hands clutching at the bodies of her parents.

Dead. Butchered. Their limbs scattered across the burning floor.

The girl trembled.

Something in her broke.

A scream ripped from her throat—a sound so raw, so agonizing, it nearly blanked out Ethan's mind even through the illusion.

A holy light erupted from her body.

Cracks spiderwebbed across her skin.

Her fragile body wasn't meant to contain this power.

The masked figures recoiled, panicked.

They moved to stop her.

But it was too late.

She screamed again.

This time—Everything vanished in golden light.

And then—Blackness.

Ethan gasped.  

His body convulsed as he was yanked back into reality.

His lungs burned, his breath came in ragged heaves.

His mind—

His mind was breaking.

The horror he had just witnessed clawed at his sanity.

The corpses, the limbs, the merciless killing, the fire…

The girl.  

His Eyes of Discernment kicked in at the last moment, shielding him, preventing his consciousness from collapsing entirely.

Even still—he staggered back.

Away from the girl.

Away from the weight of her memories.

Tears streamed down his face.

Unbidden.

Uncontrollable.

His body trembled with something he had never quite felt before.

Pure, absolute terror.

It took everything in him to steady his breath.

To process.

To understand. And even still, he can't seem to understand what just happened. His mind cannot process it.  

He forced himself to look up—

And met her gaze.

The girl was staring at him now.

For the first time.

Those same golden eyes.

Bleeding with golden blood.  

"Are you going to save me?"

"Are you going to save me?"

"Are you going to save me?"

Again.

Again.

Again.

Her voice echoed—a sound that wasn't just spoken, but commanded.

Her very existence seemed to shake with authority. An authority higher than Ethan.  

Ethan's vision blurred. His mind wavered.

It was as if reality itself was crumbling around him, bending under the weight of her words.

"But it's too late."

"But it's too late."

"But it's too late."

Again.

Again.

Again.

A broken record. A curse.

Ethan's breath hitched. Goosebumps crawled across his skin.

His body screamed at him to run.

He didn't understand.

What madness was this? What am I supposed to do in this damn trial ?

Then—

A voice.

Calm. Absolute.

It guided him.  

The voice of the Tower.

{To lead the lost… to free them… is to carry their burdens.}

{Take their burdens. Take their traumas. Be their light. And save them from their eternal torment.}

{But be warned. The more burdens you take… the more of yourself you will lose.}

{So, choose wisely which burden you are willing to shoulder, O Giver.}

Chapter 29: A Talk with System  

Ethan lay flat on the cold stone floor of the labyrinth, staring up at the bleak, endless sky.

Hours had passed.

His mind still throbbed, fragile and raw.

It took dozens of bottles of S-grade Mind Strengthening Potion just to keep himself from completely breaking.

If any other awakener from Earth saw him casually gulping down these potions—potions worth more than entire city blocks—they'd probably have a mental breakdown on the spot.

But Ethan didn't care.

He needed them.

Because what he had just experienced…

Was hell— or close to it.

..

His gaze remained locked onto the dark sky.

His second trial, and it was already this brutal.

The first one had tested his heart. His conscience. His resolve. His wisdom.  

But this?

This was something else entirely.

This wasn't just a test. This was torment.

It was as if the Tower itself was tailoring these trials specifically to break him—to challenge the very ideals that made him want to become a savior.

And the worst part?

It was working.

His eyes shifted to the girl.

She was still staring at him. Unblinking.

Her golden, bleeding eyes fixed on him like she could see straight into his soul.

Ethan suppressed a shudder.

He wanted to help her. He really did.

But saving her meant shouldering her burden.

Taking on the horrors she had suffered.

Living with her pain.

And frankly?

No. Thank. You.

The first time had nearly shattered his mind.

If he had to experience something like that over and over again?

Not even an ocean of S-grade potions would be enough to keep him sane.

Unfortunately…

He had no choice.

The trial required him to save the lost.

To carry their burdens.

But…

Maybe there was another way.

Maybe he could find a soul with a burden that wasn't so—

His eyes flickered back to the girl.

Yeah.

Not like hers.

…

'System. In the first trial, did I gain karmic points for helping people?'

[Yes, Host. For aiding those truly in need, you earned 4 million karmic points.]

'My current balance?'

[16 million.]

Ethan exhaled. Good.

'Where can I find a soul with a less… intense burden than this scary-ass girl?'

[Nowhere, Host.]

Silence.

'I beg your pardon?'

[This girl's trauma is the least severe of all the souls here.]

Ethan froze.

His stomach turned.

No. No, that had to be wrong.

This girl? The one who had watched her parents get butchered in front of her? The one who had exploded in holy light out of sheer grief?

That was the least scary trauma here?

What the fuck?

His throat felt dry.

'Where the hell am I? Why is the Tower sending me here?'

[This is the Labyrinth of the Lost Souls. A place for those who cannot pass into the Soul Realm because of their burdens.]

[They either refuse to let go… or they simply cannot.]

[So they suffer.]

[For eternity.]

[Reliving their past horrors over and over again.]

Ethan clenched his fists.

His mind reeled at the sheer cruelty of it.

"Why have regrets? Just die peacefully and move on, you dumbasses."

He let out a bitter laugh.

But deep down…

He feels sad for them.

Living an eternity, trapped in your worst moment.

With only pain as your companion.

That was hell. Literally.  

His gaze swept across the labyrinth, watching the drifting souls.

And for the first time— He saw them differently.

Not as an obstacle.

Not as a burden.

But as people.

People who had suffered. People who deserved salvation.  

A quiet thought formed in his mind.

I wish I could save them all.

And then—

His entire body tensed.

A system notification instantly popped up.

[Do not even think about it.]

Ethan blinked.

'Oh? So you can interrupt my thoughts now hun ?'

'And are you only showing yourself when I make wishes ? I think I will do that more often then.'

Silence.

Then—

[Ethan. It is too early for this conversation.]

Tsk.

Of course you would say that.

You always dodged the important questions. Fucking cliché.

'I already know someone's manipulating me—and you are the prime suspect by the way—so don't push it with these bullshit excuses.'

A pause.

Then—

[This is not the time for this talk. Climb the Tower, Ethan. Learn its secrets. And you will know what you want to know.]

[And you cannot save this realm, the souls here, by simply wishing it.]

[You are too weak.]

[You cannot bear the burden.]

[And I will not bear it for you again. It will do you nor good.]

Ethan stilled.

'So the problem is that I'm too weak to shoulder the burden of saving them all?'

[Yes.]

[And more importantly—it is dangerous.]

[This labyrinth exists for a reason.]

[Saving these souls would paint a target on your back.]

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

'Why?'

[Because no one is supposed to be able to do that.]

[Only the True Children of that Bitch can.]

[And trust me, they won't bother saving anyone.]

Ethan blinked.

'…Excuse me? "That Bitch"?'

What Bitch?

System, do you just have enemies everywhere?

The Wretched Tower and now a Bitch ?

No response.

Figures.

But then—

[Save the girl.]

[She is an Angel.]

The system glitched.

Ethan's breath hitched.

Angel?

As in… literal Angel?

'System. Angel's exist?'

[Yes, Host.]

Tsk.

The robotic tone was back.  

Of course.

Ethan sighed and sat up.

'Fine. Whatever. Then tell me this—how can I save souls without permanently wrecking my mind?'

A pause.

[You can purchase the Mind Prison skill Host.]

[It will create a mental prison to store unwanted memories, preventing them from affecting you.]

Ethan's eyes lit up.

That's it. That's exactly what he needed.

'How much?'

[10 million karmic points.]

…Silence.

Then, out of sheer habit—

"YOU SCAMMING BASTARD!!!"

Chapter 30: The Price of a Promise

Ethan exhaled sharply, frustration simmering beneath his skin.

His system was a scammer.

Ten million karmic points for a single skill? Ridiculous.

[The Mind is a fragile and complex subject, Host. Anything related to it is expensive.]

'What grade is this skill?'

[S-grade, Host.]

'Will it protect me from everything I'll have to endure?'

[Yes.]

Ethan clenched his jaw.

At this rate, his dream of awakening his bloodline was slipping further away.

And worse—

He had promised his family resources superior to those of a Stage 1 True Dragon God.

Damn it.

Me and my big mouth.

Now, he had to make good on that promise.

He sighed.

First, let's finish this trial.

'Buy it, you scammer.'

A small, unexpected sound echoed.

Eh.

Ethan froze.

Did… someone just "eh" at me?

[Yes, Host.]

…

[Ding! You have purchased Mind Prison (S-grade).]

Mind Prison (Passive - S-Grade)

A passive skill that allows you to create a prison within your mind to store unwanted memories. You may unlock and access them at will.

…

As soon as the notification appeared, Ethan understood the skill.

That was the benefit of buying from the system—instant comprehension.

All that was left was training and getting used to it.

He pushed himself up, exhaling deeply.

"Now, I'm ready."

His gaze flickered to the girl.

Ethan took slow steps forward but stopped five meters away from her.

…Yes, he was afraid.

Who wouldn't be?

They were talking about a damn angel.

There were no records of angels in the Tower's library or anywhere he had studied.

And yet, here she was.

He crouched. His voice was quiet but firm.

"Do you want to be saved?"

The girl responded instantly.

Her voice trembled—not with fear, but with urgency.

Her bleeding golden eyes locked onto his.

"Can you do it?"

Ethan met her gaze.

"I believe I can."

She moved.

Fast.

In the blink of an eye, she was in front of him.

Her tiny hands clutched his arms.

Desperate.

"Can you really? Can you really?"

And then—

Her next words froze him in place.

"Can you really kill me and end my nightmare?"

"I want to join my father and mother."

Silence.

Ethan's breath hitched.

His heart pounded.

His lips parted, but no words came.

Because when he looked into her eyes…

He saw grief.

Despair.

A soul crushed beyond recognition.

To her, salvation meant death.

Not a second chance.

An end.

Something inside Ethan twisted.

His chest ached in a way it never had before.

But even so—

He forced a smile.

His Aura of Devotion surged, wrapping around her like a warm light.

"No."

His voice was soft but unshakable.

"Not death. I want to save you by giving you another chance at life."

The girl tilted her head.

She didn't understand.

How?

How could she possibly have another life?

But then—

Her golden eyes met Ethan's green ones.

And suddenly…

For the first time since that night—

She felt peace.

Why?

Why was she willing to trust this stranger?

This man who had stepped into her nightmare, seen her worst memories, and still reached out to her? Is that why ?

She didn't know.

She didn't need to know.

She was tired.

She had once been just a little girl, happy and loved.

Until it was all ripped away.

Her mind was broken.

Her soul, shattered.

All she wanted was peace.

And in this moment—

She felt it with him.