———
"To know the truth of the world… you must be willing to see how it was born… and how it began to break."
— Haruto Ayashi
———
Haruto's laughter broke the silence, sudden and jarred.
A confusion?
A mistake?
Is there something funny about me?
Words unable to describe.
"How did you get here, bro? Like did you die or something?" He paused, turning his gaze to the girl. "…and where did you find her? She looks like a fyneshit." He said jestingly.
My eyes rolled as I blocked his view from her. "She's not your concern. Just tell me, How'd you get here?"
"Damn, bro. Are you always this serious?" Haruto scratched his head with a heavy sigh.
I gave him a cold look.
"Fine." Haruto leaned against a wall. "Try to get comfortable."
I sat on the side of the bed, still not trusting him.
"If you're wondering—this world, Eternavexus, is a playground. A stage. A masterpiece carved from the void itself…" Haruto frowned "but also a mistake, created by the Architects—Beings older than even the Primordials, known as the true gods."
I stared at him, studying his face. "…Go on."
"Before Eternavexus was created, they built infinite galaxies, endless realms, countless dimensions," Haruto continued, "but time, even for them… is a cruel thing. And when eternity stretches too far, even gods begin to get bored."
"So you're saying that—" Before I could finish my words, he pressed his hand against my forehead.
The world vanished to nothing white… pure… and then… dark.
⸻
As I opened my eyes, the surrounding was empty...
Where am I? The void answered with nothing.
No light.
No creatures.
No laws.
Only absence—A place where nothing is a thing.
I can't move, can't feel my body, can't feel anything.
Did I… die again? What did he do to me?
And from that nothingness... I saw something moved — releasing a dreadful surge of mana.
Chills spread outward, like the void itself had touched me. What… is that?
A ripple, a breath a celestial being stepped into existence. His eyes swirled with storms of chaos, and in his presence, the void seemed to shift and tremble.
I–Is he… an Architect?
He glared, not at me but something else.
He watched, waited, knew the rest are coming...
And they did… One by one.
Each tried to surpass the others with their authority. Even gods won't dare to rival them. In fact, they would kneel and beg just to exist.
I soon realised that the power I had gained after reincarnation was mere child's play for them. Before me stood the true rulers, beings who ruled not just creation, but every possible outcome.
One of them glared at me. The moment our gaze collided, my lungs locked, as if the void itself had wrapped around my ribs.
More of them turned — silent, merciless — and the pressure crushed my bones. My vision cracked under the strain, my thoughts unraveling like shredded paper.
The pain was unbearable.
My vision began to blur.
———
"...Bro, wake up! I'm not done yet." Haruto poked my forehead. "Stop lying around and get up!"
A sharp poke on my forehead dragged me back. I gasped for air as soon as the candlelight reached me, my chest heaving, my face was as pale as moonlight.
"Relax, bro..." Haruto tried to calm me down.
I looked at him, annoyed. "Relax?! What the hell was that?"
He looked at me annoyed, "He's overreacting." He muttered to himself before giving me a slap. "Hold your horses," and continued "As you see, they were the Architects."
"So? Why are you showing me this?" I asked, staring at my shaking hands.
"I can feel their presence in you, bro." He replied. "There are total of seven Architects—Space, Life, Death, Creation, Chaos, Dream and Elements."
I looked at him, eager to know.
"By far, Chaos is the strongest." Haruto looked me with a piercing eye. "You have his authority, bro."
"System…" I called, just to make sure he's right.
[ STATUS MENU — IZAYAMI TSUKIHIRO ]
▸ Race: Unknown (Singular Existence)
▸ Title: Apostle of Chaos
▸ Level: 45
▸ Core Power: [Authority of Chaos - sealed (need a specific condition to unlock)]
▸ Hp: 1950
▸ Mp: 1400
▸ Existential Stability: 200
"You mean, my core power?"
"Exactly! And you know what that means?" he leaned closer to me, shaking my shoulders.
"What?"
"That means you are powerful, bro." He pulled himself away. "But don't be full of yourself. We are not that different."
Haruto turned his gaze, walking to the window.
———
"There are a few people I've been hunting down for a couple of months." He glanced over the stars. "They planned to summon the Architect of Space to rule over the world."
"So? What do you want me to do?"
He took a step closer to me. "I need your help."
"For what? Stop them?" I stood up, shocked. "This is not the reason I reincarnated for. Didn't you say you're also like me?"
"Yes, but they also have the authority." He walked all around the room, looking desperate. "I'm alone, won't be enough."
"Hold still." I nudged him. "So, you're saying they also have the Architect's Authority?"
Haruto rubbed his head. "Yes, bro."
He reached into his coat and pulled out an orb — pulsing faintly red, like a heartbeat trapped in glass.
"What's that?" The orb caught my attention.
"…In return, I'm going to help you wake her up." Haruto made his move toward the sleeping girl.
———
I scooted closer. "What are you doing?"
Haruto walked to her with the orb. "Shush…"
I watched him, barely lost in thought. The information I received in one night was too much.
The orb that was held by Haruto flew to the girl by itself — recognising her as its master.
Then Haruto started chanting some spells in a language I don't understand — magic circle formed.
Is that a rune language?
As the spell took shape, radiant light bloomed from the magic. I could feel the sanctum beneath me, shaking.
The light swelled — too bright, too fast — before erupting with a thunderous crack. The floor split, stone and dust blasting into the air, light burst — blinding everyone around leaving silence in his wake.
———
📄 End of Chapter 5
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