At the promised time, when the bells rolled at midnight, four avatar candidates were meant to remain in the capitals of their respective clans. Upon being chosen, four pillars of light would rise from the world, illuminating the sky—a divine signal to all who sought justice and freedom that salvation had arrived.
At this moment, the four candidates were engaged in a conversation through holographic projections. Yet, despite their status, the one leading the discussion was a fifth person. She carried such overwhelming confidence and charisma that even the avatars found it natural for her to take command.
She was the one who had changed the course of the world a year ago, or, as some would argue, restored it to its rightful path.
Her name was Reyna Aurelia Varenthion.
Since the death of her brother a year prior, she had become the first in line for the throne.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the promised time is upon us. The next time we meet, you will carry the fate of humanity in your hands. I know the hardships you have endured to reach this point. But trust me, it was all worth it."
"Enough with the formalities, Princess. Just tell us why you called us."
Darius, the Prince of the Stonehelm Clan, cut in impatiently.
Reyna smiled, unbothered by his tone.
"Ah, Lord Darius. There is no need to rush. Everything is happening exactly as it should."
"You mean how you want it to happen?" Darius sneered. "Oh please. You use that shitty ability to mess with time as an excuse, but you've ruined countless lives. Tell me, Princess, did you tell us the whole truth? And now, you expect us to sit back while an entire city is slaughtered?"
Reyna's gaze darkened.
"Lord Darius, with this shitty ability, I am perfectly capable of slitting the throats of everyone in this empire and more. So do not cross the line." Her voice was cold and unwavering. "I have sacrificed many things for our future."
Darius gave her a mocking smile.
"Oh, I understand perfectly well how powerful you are. After all, you used it to bury him. If you hadn't interfered in that duel, Thalia would never have won."
A suffocating killing intent surged through the air, so thick it could be felt even through the holograms.
"Do not speak of him in my presence." Reyna's voice was venomous. "He was an anomaly, an aberration that disrupted all of our destinies. If he were here, we would have been nothing more than stepping stones in his path."
Darius smirked but said nothing.
Reyna exhaled sharply, closing her eyes for a moment as memories flooded back.
She remembered how he had been revered as a savior, how even those deemed villains and extras had rallied beside him and grown strong. How the Demon King had declared him a rival and, in his quest to surpass him, had become so powerful that the avatars could no longer compete.
She opened her eyes, her resolve unwavering.
"Adrian Holloway was a monster." Her words were laced with pure hatred. "That is why I made sure to eliminate him while he was still a mere human."
A long silence followed, before another voice spoke.
"And what about Cindervale?"
The speaker was a woman who had remained silent until now, a blonde-haired beauty with piercing blue eyes, bearing the unmistakable characteristics of the Ignisborne bloodline.
Reyna turned her gaze to Thalia, the Avatar of Fire.
"I agreed to work with you because you promised to restore things to how they should have been. That I would get my brother back, the way he was before that monster's influence."
Her voice trembled with restrained fury.
"You assured me that once I killed the transmigrator, my brother would return to me. But now, not only is he not here, you even erased all traces of his achievements.
"Princess, you crossed the line when you destroyed Cindervale and slaughtered everyone loyal to him."
Reyna's expression remained unreadable.
"Lady Thalia, removing all traces of his influence was necessary. Cindervale was always meant to be destroyed. His arrival changed that. As painful as it was, it had to be done."
Thalia's eyes burned with rage, but her voice was calm.
"Perhaps you are right, Princess. But I will no longer have any part in your schemes, no matter how justified they may be."
Reyna studied her carefully. It didn't matter.
She's easy to control, Reyna thought. That is precisely why I only killed the transmigrator and spared the original owner. He will be my leash on her.
She allowed herself a small, imperceptible smirk.
Adrian is gone. The only thing left is trash. A weakling who will live and die as a slave. A mere ant, swept away by fate.
"Lady Thalia, I understand—"
Before she could finish, a sudden mana spike disrupted the transmission.
It was something that was not supposed to happen.
A few minutes later, after tracing the surge of energy, Reyna found herself standing before the Oracle of Varenthis.
She had visited this place countless times to seek guidance on the future. Each time, the Oracle had answered her with glowing golden eyes, radiating a rich golden aura.
But this time was different.
A brilliant emerald glow enveloped the Oracle.
Emerald green, the color of the world.
Legends spoke of an ancient entity known as the World, said to watch over its inhabitants, embracing them in its love and protection. Nothing more than folklore.
Yet now, that same emerald radiance shone from every Oracle across the continent.
Then, in a voice that resonated in perfect harmony, reverberating across the capital, they spoke:
The heir of flames, once cast aside,
Shall rise again as fate's denied.
An hour before the bells resound,
His strength reclaimed, his path unbound.
With all he was upon the line,
He dares to break fate's grand design.
Where crimson streets in ruin lie,
He'll face the Warborn, death drawn nigh.
Through sacrifice, the dark is torn,
From fire and ash, victory is born.
Beneath the stars, his voice takes flight
To claim a throne beyond all sight.
Within the green mist like glow, A city partially in ruins could be seen. City was crawling with monsters radiating a purple fog and fighting as soldiers should. Monsters rally behind a blurred figure riding a horse.
An army of monsters could be seen, rallying behind the horseman, marching onwards destroying everything in their path. Suddenly, the oncoming march came to an halt as a pillar of flames obstructed their path. Within the flames, a young man walked forward. His piercing blue eyes fixed on the rider as he raised his sword. He slowly started walking forward. Behind him, humans began to gather one by one. Young man marched forward fearlessly and pointer his towards the midnight sky.
"Under the gaze of starry skey, I speak of my conviction. I will emerge victorious over every main character in this world"
As the words faded, a thunderous echo rippled through the capital. The emerald glow pulsed one last time, then shattered into a million fragments, vanishing into the night.
Reyna felt as if he was looking at her when he was speaking. Adrian was gone. She ensured it. Although this young man had the same face as him, aura he gave was different. Not a savior but an oncoming disaster that will swallow everything. For the first time after her regression, fear slowly creeped into her heart.