Silence.Darkness.A sealed decision.
Kairo had accepted the deal. But just before his soul returned to life, the Creator's voice surrounded him once more. This time, more solemn. Heavier.
"There is still something you must know, Kairo."
His essence, suspended in the void, tensed.
"This contract between you and me... it is sacred. Unbreakable. But also fragile.If anyone else finds out… if even one person learns of its existence… the pact will shatter."
Kairo said nothing, but his consciousness shuddered.
"In that moment, you will automatically lose one hundred percent of your soul. There will be no turning back. Your body will drop dead… and your existence will be mine. Forever."
A chill ran through what remained of his soul.
"Why?"
"Because gifts that defy death cannot be shared without consequence. Absolute power demands an absolute price.This path is yours alone."
Kairo swallowed hard, even though he had no throat. He understood instantly: he had to bear that secret until the end. Alone.
Before the light returned him to the world of the living, Kairo asked:
"And the shadow? Will it still be there when I wake up? If I go back now… won't it kill me again?"
The Creator was silent for a moment. Then, in a deep voice, he answered:
"Do not worry about it. It will no longer be there."
"Did you destroy it?"
"No. It would be a waste to annihilate something like that so early in your journey. That creature belongs to a superior race. They are heralds of the Void.An entire civilization of them exists.Shadows sent to worlds like yours, not to save…But to wipe out life and sell the soulless planets."
Fear returned—but so did a spark of resolve.
"One day," the Creator whispered, "you will have to face them.And that day… your strength must surpass that of the gods."
Kairo didn't reply. He didn't need to.
His soul burned.
And the universe… began to tremble.
Kairo opened his eyes.
A sigh escaped his lips.He was alive.
But not only that…
There was no pain.No wounds.
He shot upright, gasping, staring at his hands, his chest…
The claw that had pierced him was gone. No blood. No scars.
As if he had never died.
"Kairo?!" Chack's voice trembled, broken by disbelief.
Kairo looked up. Chack was on his knees beside Xavier's body. But now, his friend was no longer bleeding.
The armor was still torn, yes—but the wound…Gone.
The cut on his ribs… closed.As if it had never been there.
Xavier opened his eyes, dazed.
"What…? What happened?"
Chack stood up shakily, staring at Kairo as if witnessing a miracle.
"You were dead! I saw you fall! You were… dead!" he repeated, voice cracking.
Kairo swallowed hard.He couldn't say anything.He mustn't.
The contract...
"I don't know," he finally said, pretending confusion. "I just remember darkness. Then… I woke up."
He looked around.
The shadow… was gone.
No trace.No energy.No corpse.As if it had never existed.
Xavier sat up, touching his side in disbelief.
"And my wound? Didn't I…?"
"Yes! It went right through you! You were bleeding out!" Chack shouted. "What kind of magic is this?!"
Kairo took a deep breath.
He couldn't tell the truth.
The weight of the secret pressed on his shoulders like an invisible burden.
"I don't know… Maybe… someone protected us. A miracle," he muttered, avoiding their gaze.
But inside, he knew.
The Creator had kept his word.
He had brought him back to life.He had healed his companions.He had made the shadow disappear.
But everything came at a cost.
A cost only he would bear.
And deep within his soul, he felt it.
One percent… no longer belonged to him.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
A sharp beeping echoed from his wrist.
The Chronocore—the watch-shaped device—lit up with a bright electric blue glow.A holographic screen immediately flickered to life.
Level Up.
The numbers began to climb rapidly.
Kairo squinted, stunned, as his level increased…Not once.Not twice.
Fifteen times in a row!
"What…?" he stepped back, eyes wide.
Level 5 → Level 20!
A rush of pure power surged through his body.
His muscles tightened.His mind sharpened.His senses expanded.
It felt as though his very existence was being rewritten…
Evolving.
[Hero Status: Kairo]
Rank: F
Current Level: 20
EXP: 0 / 750
Health (HP): 290 / 290 (+150)
Energy (EP): 145 / 145 (+75)
Strength: 27 (+15)
Agility: 28 (+15)
Vitality: 27 (+15)
Intelligence: 29 (+15)
Defense: 26 (+15)
Speed: 28 (+15)
And this… was only the first step toward the impossible.