⚔️ EDITION 15 — "THE FIRST WAR"
Part 3: The Price of War
The battlefield fell silent.
Rain poured endlessly.
Both armies stood frozen.
Every eye was fixed on the sky.
Above the storm...
Two enormous crimson eyes watched the battlefield.
Neither the Writer.
Nor the Dreamer.
Nor even Nemesis recognized them.
Only one person reacted.
The Forgotten Version.
His face lost all color.
Forgotten Version
"...Impossible."
Dreamer
"You know what that is?"
The Forgotten Version clenched his fists.
Forgotten Version
"No..."
"I prayed I'd never see those eyes again."
The clouds slowly twisted into a giant vortex.
A voice echoed across the battlefield.
Ancient.
Cold.
Emotionless.
Unknown Voice
"So..."
"You've begun fighting each other."
Lightning exploded across the sky.
The battlefield shook violently.
Unknown Voice
"How... disappointing."
Every Version instinctively raised their weapon.
Not against each other.
Against the sky.
For the first time...
The battle had stopped.
Barbaric Author
"What are you?!"
No answer.
Only laughter.
A deep...
Empty laughter.
Unknown Voice
"Children..."
"Playing with swords."
The Writer slowly stepped forward.
Writer
"Show yourself!"
Silence.
Then—
The clouds parted.
A colossal silhouette appeared.
Not completely.
Only its outline.
Large enough to cover the entire battlefield.
Its body seemed to be made from living darkness.
The Dreamer could barely breathe.
Dreamer
"..."
Even Nemesis looked upward.
His expression changed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
Nemesis
"So..."
"You finally came."
The Writer immediately turned.
Writer
"You know this thing?!"
Nemesis didn't look away.
Nemesis
"I know..."
"What it represents."
The battlefield trembled again.
Massive cracks spread across the earth.
Ancient ruins collapsed.
The rain suddenly stopped.
Everything became unnaturally quiet.
The giant voice spoke again.
Unknown Voice
"You fight over hatred."
"You fight over hope."
"You fight over memories."
Its glowing eyes slowly moved toward the Dreamer.
Unknown Voice
"But none of you understand..."
"The burden of creation."
The Dreamer took one step backward.
Dreamer
"Who are you?"
The giant laughed.
Unknown Voice
"I have had many names."
The Forgotten Version interrupted.
Forgotten Version
"Don't answer."
Everyone looked at him.
Forgotten Version
"If it speaks its true name..."
"It gains power."
The battlefield fell silent again.
Even the giant stopped speaking.
Then...
It smiled.
Unknown Voice
"You still remember."
The Forgotten Version lowered his head.
Forgotten Version
"I remember everything."
Suddenly—
The giant raised one hand.
A massive spear of black lightning formed above the battlefield.
Hundreds of meters long.
It pointed directly toward both armies.
Dreamer
"Everyone!!"
The spear descended.
BOOOOOOOM!!
The earth exploded.
Entire hills vanished.
The shockwave threw everyone backwards.
Broken weapons flew through the air.
The battlefield disappeared beneath dust.
Minutes passed.
Silence.
The dust slowly settled.
The Dreamer stood up.
Blood trickled from his forehead.
The Writer struggled to his feet.
Barbaric Author had lost his sword.
Futuristic Author's machines were destroyed.
Redeemed Author was helping injured Versions.
The Dreamer immediately searched.
Dreamer
"Nemesis!"
Far away...
Standing alone.
Nemesis had stopped the attack.
One arm was raised.
Black energy surrounded him.
His cloak had been torn apart.
Blood dripped from his fingertips.
The giant looked down.
Unknown Voice
"So..."
"You've become stronger."
Nemesis smiled weakly.
Nemesis
"I had to."
The giant slowly disappeared back into the clouds.
Unknown Voice
"You are not ready."
Its eyes slowly closed.
Unknown Voice
"When your war ends..."
"I shall return."
The storm vanished.
Sunlight broke through the clouds.
The battlefield became quiet.
Neither army moved.
The Writer looked around.
Broken armor.
Destroyed machines.
Injured Versions.
Burning ruins.
He lowered his head.
Writer
"This..."
"...was only the first battle."
Barbaric Author slowly picked up his damaged sword.
He looked toward Nemesis.
For the first time...
He didn't see a monster.
He saw someone who had just protected everyone.
Nemesis turned away.
Nemesis
"Next time..."
"There won't be anyone to interrupt us."
He began walking away across the ruined battlefield.
No one chased him.
No one attacked him.
Everyone simply watched.
The Dreamer whispered to himself.
Dreamer
"The First Author was right."
"Wars don't create winners..."
"They create scars."
The camera slowly rose into the sky.
The battlefield stretched endlessly below.
Hundreds lay wounded.
Ancient banners burned in the wind.
The First War had ended.
But peace had not begun.
TO BE CONTINUED.