Bright moonlight spilled through the window. Rosaline, lying atop an ivory bed, snapped her eyes open, gasping like someone fleeing a nightmare. Only a single rose? One tiny teacup? Yes. That dream was a distinct nightmare. Injustice and resentment flared so violently she could barely draw breath. How can this be?! How can my power be so pathetic and insignificant! She wanted to scream, but she held it back. She wasn't alone in the bedroom. Hannah, who shared the room, slept

The knowledge that the entity speaking through the status window was a god, sent a chill down her spine. And why had it waited for her so long? [Odette] "You waited for me? Why……?" [So please, say my name. Odette.] The status window offered no other answer. It simply displayed that final message. She understood the situation. The entity behind the window, the First Transcendent, awaited her to speak his name. How am I supposed to know your name……? In The Only Savior, "God" wa

Golden rays of light enveloped Zion. The beams tangled together like thread, forging chains of solid gold. Just as he had done on Athena Island, he gathered all the energy used for the capital's defensive barrier. It was a magnificent sight, but Odette couldn't keep her eyes on him. The deeper she fell into the Calamity, the stronger the pull became. My arms and legs…… they feel like they are tearing apart. The force yanking her in every direction stretched her skin and muscl

A sense of déjà vu washed over her first. From that feeling, buried memories slowly clawed their way back to life. Paula remembered the road to the Albrecht estate, riding in a carriage with her mother. In a mountain village, they had received a green liquid inside that very jewelry box. Back then, the old apothecary who handed over the medicine had spoken clearly. [Apothecary] "This is Mengele. It mimics the scent of a Purifier. I am a master of my craft, so you can use it i

Odette watched Karl's retreating back. Hatred, guilt, and pity swirled within her, a chaotic storm of emotions. While trapped inside that prison of time, the dark red sphere looked like a miniature universe. A thunderous crash echoed as Johan and Viktor shattered the cage. The tiny universe broke into hundreds of pieces, raining down onto the floor. Odette's eyes widened. She stared at the fragments falling like a meteor shower. Each shard acted as a mirror, reflecting a diff

Her pulse throbbed beneath her skin where his gaze rested. Odette could track every frantic beat. Karl noted her tension, a lazy smile spreading across his lips. [Karl] "Am I that repulsive? This seems like a small price to pay compared to the agony I suffered when my Master abandoned me." For a fleeting second, his voice carried a hint of self-mockery. [Odette] "I told you to move, Karl." The soft trace vanished instantly, replaced by a predatory glint in his eyes. [Karl] "H

Since Karl was a Transcendent, he had to crave Purification. It was his nature. If he rewinds time, this Purification disappears. He might stop the regression just to keep this feeling. Odette hid her trembling hands and gently stroked his back. She poured every ounce of her focus into the Purification. [Karl] "……Hmm." Karl had only been a Transcendent for two years. No Calamities had appeared since his awakening, so he had no reason to use his powers. Because of this, Odette

The status window cast a sharp glow across the pitch-black dungeon. This artificial light allowed Odette to see clearly. Behind rusted bars stained with old blood, Karl sat bound in heavy chains. He was a different man from the one she knew two years ago. A feral, decadent energy clung to him. His frame had grown massive, almost monstrous. A crooked, mocking smile rested on his lips. He looked more dangerous now than the moment he decapitated her in her previous life. He radi

Shock jolted her. [Paula] "What? That makes no sense. Saintess Charlotte chose me?" [Gustav] "You know the Saintess joined the Albrecht family through adoption. As a lady of the house, she requires a lady-in-waiting and she specifically requested you." [Paula] "But why......? I was never a lady-in-waiting. I was a maid." Her expression went blank. The news articles already detailed Charlotte's rise as the Albrecht daughter, alongside the deaths of Ferdinand and Rolf. But this

Odette created the opening for Ferdinand's escape from the prison carriage. Four D-class Transcendents had volunteered for the transport mission. Among them was a mole she recruited. Allow Ferdinand to escape before they get too far from the estate. The man came from a poor home and suffered under Ferdinand's command. He insulted the man's mother daily, fueling a deep hatred. When Odette shared her plan to end Ferdinand's life, the man accepted the deal instantly. He would ne

Ferdinand stood on the brink of collapse, his body a map of deep gashes and heavy blood loss. His physical shell could no longer endure the forced release of his power. With a wet cough, the dense swarm of insects thinned. Only a handful remained—the meager amount a D-class Transcendent could typically control. [Ferdinand] "Damn it. Nothing goes my way." He wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. [Maximilian] "Waaaaah!" Maximilian’s cry pierced the air. Ferd

A middle-aged High Priest carefully poured holy water over the infant. The solemn voice of the priest echoed through the garden, competing with the steady splash of the fountain. [High Priest] "Under the protection of the World Tree and in the name of the Holy Spirit, I baptize you." Maximilian smiled, his hair damp and glinting in the light. He knew nothing of the world. With these words, the final step of the ceremony concluded. The High Priest signaled the end, and the Cou

[Ferdinand] "This is nonsense! I can't lose my family name for a crime I didn't commit!" He demanded a lawyer from behind the bars of the City Watch station. He insisted the exile was illegal and threatened a lawsuit. The guards ignored his shouts. The Emperor, the Pope, and Count Albrecht had reached a total agreement. The Imperial Court would never accept his case. [Guard] "You absolute idiot! The Imperial Court already signed the papers. What are you talking about? A lawsu

Ferdinand sat behind the iron bars of the City Watch station. He ignored the mockery of the guards and the other criminals. Though his son always provoked his anger, Ulrich felt a sharp pang of grief watching him crumble. Ferdinand sobbed, his spirit entirely broken. [Ferdinand] "I... I won't go to the casino anymore." He had left the house with such arrogance, treating his father like a fool. Now that his father possessed no power to help him, the boy begged for mercy. If Fe

Odette sat by the window in a rosewood dress. She smiled at the chaos outside the gates. [Holy Knight] "What are you doing, Young Lord Albrecht!" The knights scrambled in confusion. A swarm of wasps blocked their path, leaving them helpless. The sight amused Odette. Some knights ran to call the Imperial Guard. Summoning wasps. How foolish. Odette laughed at Ferdinand. He had trapped himself. Autumn wasps were in their prime, after all. The knights struggled to clear the insec