The void of the Chaos Spirit Dimension stretched endlessly, a realm where time had no rhythm and thoughts echoed louder than reality itself. Kazuki walked in silence, his footsteps silent against the ever-shifting floor of swirling shadows.
He had been here before—countless times, in fragmented visions and elusive dreams. But this time… something felt different.
He paused.
His gaze flicked toward a direction that didn't exist moments ago. It was as if the world itself bent around his will. Drawn by an unseen force—or perhaps by fate—Kazuki turned and began walking toward it. With each step, the mists grew thinner, the chaotic energy less hostile. In front of him now stood a throne.
It was massive—constructed from obsidian and veined with crimson light that pulsed like a heartbeat. The very air around it vibrated with unstable power. And yet, Kazuki approached with calm certainty. He sat down.
A long silence followed.
Then, with a slow smile and a low voice full of triumph, he murmured:
"It finally worked."
His eyes opened.
Gone was the chaos. Gone were the illusions.
Now, Kazuki was seated on the true throne—the Imperial Throne of North Ryehem. Sunlight streamed through the towering windows of the palace's inner sanctum, casting brilliant patterns on the floor. The weight of the world had shifted. The throne room, typically filled with courtiers, generals, and guards, was now eerily quiet. He was alone. But not powerless.
He was in control.
A quiet grin stretched across his face as he surveyed the grandeur around him. He shifted slightly on the velvet-lined seat, crossing one leg over the other with practiced ease.
"Now… when will he come?" he mused, his tone both casual and cryptic.
That smile remained for a moment longer… then faded.
His expression grew distant—his mind retreating inward. He sighed, almost tiredly.
"I'm still conflicted," he admitted aloud, his voice echoing slightly in the empty hall. "Externally, I'm doing everything right. Every move I make strengthens my presence. My influence. My control."He paused, eyes narrowing."But inside... I'm still drifting. Caught in illusions. Memories. Thoughts. The Chaos Spirit keeps showing me things—things I thought I'd buried."
His fingers tightened slightly around the armrest of the throne.
"They don't affect my results… not yet. But they linger. They whisper. They remind me of what I was. What I might still become."
A long breath. Then he straightened, the steel returning to his spine.
"It doesn't matter. So long as I win in the outer world, these inner struggles are nothing but noise."
He rose briefly from the throne, walking slowly down the marble steps that led to the heart of the hall. His footsteps echoed, each one marking his silent dominance over a realm that once stood against him.
But before he reached the last step, he turned and looked back at the throne—the throne that once belonged to Emperor Vareon. The very seat of power in North Ryehem.
Now it belonged to him.
And with that thought, Kazuki smiled again.
Not out of arrogance.Not out of madness.But out of purpose.
"Let the world move," he whispered. "Let them come. I've already begun writing the next chapter of their life."