That moment.
A light flashed before my eyes, and an unknown force bounced my hand as if pushing me away.
‘Ack!’
I was startled and took a step back.
Starting from where the hand touched, the space began to distort.
[It’s almost over]
A now familiar voice whispered in my ear. I looked clearly beyond the distorted space as if I would not miss the end.
Darkness spread from the place where Georg’s body disappeared.
In an instant, the sun disappeared, and the fog of death filled the land of Tamar. All plants and animals disappeared into a handful of ash, and all living things perished.
It was a terrible sight.
It made it very clear what happens to people who anger God.
I watched them slowly crumble, as if possessed.
At that time,
On the completely black and dead land of Tamar, something like a handful of ashes floated.
And that moment.
‘Because you are the one who deserves the most love out of all the things I have created.’
A handful of floating ash gathered together and gave off a small light.
‘I’ll give you one more chance.’
God didn’t say anything to me, but I knew.
That thing that was reduced to a handful of ashes and is now reborn as a small light.
‘…The phoenix.’
I am the soul of the Divine Beast Phoenix, and the ‘me’ that exists here and now.
As soon as I realized that fact, the ancient memories that God had shown me began to crumble.
“Ugh!”
The floor sank and the ceiling collapsed.
When I closed my eyes for a moment and opened them, I found myself back in that space again.
I sat down on the floor and thought again about what I had just seen.
‘…Ancient memories.’
Old stories related to the Phoenix and the land of Tamar.
There were more things I saw that I couldn’t believe, but I had no choice but to believe them.
Because it was all true.
‘Humans used me to open a passage to God, and I sacrificed the rest of my life to close that passage.’
When I clenched and opened my fist, I saw round fingernail marks left on my palm.
‘And… I was destroyed for the sin of incurring God’s wrath.’
I buried my face in my palms. There was no laughter or crying.
Maybe it was because it was a story from the past so far away that it felt like a story that had nothing to do with me now.
Even though all of those things are clearly my story.
[You blame me for bringing you back to life.]
“….”
[If it is my fault for making you kind, who should I blame for making me kind?]
God whispered in a soft voice. I kept my face buried the whole time and then looked up.
“Did I make you kind?”
[You taught me what dedication is.]
At that moment, the image of the Phoenix that closed the passage, sacrificing the rest of its life for the humans who betrayed it, came to mind.
Even if I could never be revived, protecting them was more important.
[I just wanted to give you a chance to love again.]
However, it is impossible to bring back to life a divine beast that has already disappeared from the world forever.
God’s voice became blurred.
[I lost most of my power to save you. Therefore, it is entirely my fault that I didn’t notice that the guys were disrupting the world and plotting an evil plan once again. Baby.]
God told me that it was her fault that I had to die in my past life.
Because the power of God was not perfect, I, who was resurrected, could not live a perfect life and had to die when I was only seven years old.
I quietly listened to the story, then looked up at the highest point and asked.
“Are they also the humans who spread Giles pollen and turned the world into hell?”
[Yeah.]
The beastmen society truly becomes a chaos.
Mr. Hern left for the Deer Clan, saying he could make an antidote, but no one knew when the antidote would be completed.
Moreover, with the damage already spread throughout society, a small amount of antidote may only be able to save a few people.
Even in this situation, I thought of the young beastmen who had lost their parents and were being cared for by the servants in the basement of the Yeckhart Mansion.
I don’t know how many beastmen are being harmed at this very moment.
How many children are crying after losing their parents?
The world was literally hell right now.
Although no one dared say such words.
We patted each other and comforted each other, saying that everything would be resolved well, but we all knew the truth. The world has already turned into hell.
I raised my head.
And then he slowly got up from my seat with both hands on the floor.
“If you’ve taken me for granted, please give me another chance.”
[What chance?]
I clenched my fist.
“A chance to finish what I didn’t finish. The opportunity to protect those who are precious. Save the world in shambles.”
A faint light twinkled from the highest point.
“Give me a chance to love the world again.”
***
I opened my eyes slowly.
Perhaps because I had been unconscious for a long time, my vision was blurry.
I blinked my eyelids a few times and quickly regained focus.
‘Here is.’
As soon as I realized that this was the cage I was trapped in, I jumped up.
‘What time is it?’
It was completely dark outside, and only a few candles were lit inside.
I had no idea what time it was.
When I looked out the window, I saw a round moon.
‘Is today the full moon?’
They said they would start the ritual at midnight on the day of the full moon.
I tried to bring my hand to the bar unconsciously, but it hurt my hand.
‘Ack.’
If tonight was that night, there was no time to sit like this.
‘How long exactly have I been unconscious?’
Apparently, there were a few days left before I lost consciousness.
I clenched and opened my palms and looked down at them.
And I remembered the kind voice of the god Knut.
[I will give you another chance.]
God gave me another chance.
[Before the ceremony begins, go to the World Tree in the middle of Tamar land.]
‘That was the World Tree.’
A huge and mysterious tree that sprouted after the land of Tamar was purified and grew at an incredible speed.
“What next? What should I do next…!”
[You will find out when you go, my daughter.]
With those last words, God sent me out of God’s space.
‘I have to go to the World Tree.’
In order to prevent what would happen in the future and put everything back to the way it was, I had to go to the World Tree.
‘However…How should I get there?’
I was now trapped in a huge cage. Even if I touched the bars, the bars would bounce my body away, so I couldn’t touch them carelessly.
‘Should I wait for the right time to take me out and head to the ritual site?’
However, it was a ceremony they had been waiting for for so long, and there was no way the security wouldn’t be strict that I could escape.
Maybe they’ll make me unconscious again and perform the ritual.
So I had to somehow get out of here before they took me out and took me to the ritual site.
‘I don’t know exactly what day today is.’
Judging by the round moon outside the window, it seemed like today was the full moon.
Moreover, the people who were watching me in the room had disappeared.
If my guess is correct, they might have disappeared to prepare for the ritual.
‘From what I saw at first glance in ancient times, the power of many people was needed to prepare for the ceremony.’
If so, then there really isn’t much time left.
Judging by the way my surroundings were getting dark, I must have had at most two hours left.
‘What should I do? Please, remember!’
I grabbed a handful of my hair and squeezed out my thoughts.
For a moment, I missed Arsene.
If it had been Arsene, he might have taken me out of here.
Because he said he would protect me at all costs.
But I quickly shook off the thought and shook my head.
I didn’t have time to think about this.
Since Arsene said he would protect me at all costs, I will also protect Arsene at any cost.
I will stop all of this and make Arsene happy.
After making a promise, I jumped up from my seat. Since I couldn’t stay still until the ritual started, I was planning on hitting my body until the cage opened.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
After nodding my head, I was about to hit the bars with all my might.
“Lady!”
A familiar voice called me.
That moment.
A light flashed before my eyes, and an unknown force bounced my hand as if pushing me away.
‘Ack!’
I was startled and took a step back.
Starting from where the hand touched, the space began to distort.
[It’s almost over]
A now familiar voice whispered in my ear. I looked clearly beyond the distorted space as if I would not miss the end.
Darkness spread from the place where Georg’s body disappeared.
In an instant, the sun disappeared, and the fog of death filled the land of Tamar. All plants and animals disappeared into a handful of ash, and all living things perished.
It was a terrible sight.
It made it very clear what happens to people who anger God.
I watched them slowly crumble, as if possessed.
At that time,
On the completely black and dead land of Tamar, something like a handful of ashes floated.
And that moment.
‘Because you are the one who deserves the most love out of all the things I have created.’
A handful of floating ash gathered together and gave off a small light.
‘I’ll give you one more chance.’
God didn’t say anything to me, but I knew.
That thing that was reduced to a handful of ashes and is now reborn as a small light.
‘…The phoenix.’
I am the soul of the Divine Beast Phoenix, and the ‘me’ that exists here and now.
As soon as I realized that fact, the ancient memories that God had shown me began to crumble.
“Ugh!”
The floor sank and the ceiling collapsed.
When I closed my eyes for a moment and opened them, I found myself back in that space again.
I sat down on the floor and thought again about what I had just seen.
‘…Ancient memories.’
Old stories related to the Phoenix and the land of Tamar.
There were more things I saw that I couldn’t believe, but I had no choice but to believe them.
Because it was all true.
‘Humans used me to open a passage to God, and I sacrificed the rest of my life to close that passage.’
When I clenched and opened my fist, I saw round fingernail marks left on my palm.
‘And… I was destroyed for the sin of incurring God’s wrath.’
I buried my face in my palms. There was no laughter or crying.
Maybe it was because it was a story from the past so far away that it felt like a story that had nothing to do with me now.
Even though all of those things are clearly my story.
[You blame me for bringing you back to life.]
“….”
[If it is my fault for making you kind, who should I blame for making me kind?]
God whispered in a soft voice. I kept my face buried the whole time and then looked up.
“Did I make you kind?”
[You taught me what dedication is.]
At that moment, the image of the Phoenix that closed the passage, sacrificing the rest of its life for the humans who betrayed it, came to mind.
Even if I could never be revived, protecting them was more important.
[I just wanted to give you a chance to love again.]
However, it is impossible to bring back to life a divine beast that has already disappeared from the world forever.
God’s voice became blurred.
[I lost most of my power to save you. Therefore, it is entirely my fault that I didn’t notice that the guys were disrupting the world and plotting an evil plan once again. Baby.]
God told me that it was her fault that I had to die in my past life.
Because the power of God was not perfect, I, who was resurrected, could not live a perfect life and had to die when I was only seven years old.
I quietly listened to the story, then looked up at the highest point and asked.
“Are they also the humans who spread Giles pollen and turned the world into hell?”
[Yeah.]
The beastmen society truly becomes a chaos.
Mr. Hern left for the Deer Clan, saying he could make an antidote, but no one knew when the antidote would be completed.
Moreover, with the damage already spread throughout society, a small amount of antidote may only be able to save a few people.
Even in this situation, I thought of the young beastmen who had lost their parents and were being cared for by the servants in the basement of the Yeckhart Mansion.
I don’t know how many beastmen are being harmed at this very moment.
How many children are crying after losing their parents?
The world was literally hell right now.
Although no one dared say such words.
We patted each other and comforted each other, saying that everything would be resolved well, but we all knew the truth. The world has already turned into hell.
I raised my head.
And then he slowly got up from my seat with both hands on the floor.
“If you’ve taken me for granted, please give me another chance.”
[What chance?]
I clenched my fist.
“A chance to finish what I didn’t finish. The opportunity to protect those who are precious. Save the world in shambles.”
A faint light twinkled from the highest point.
“Give me a chance to love the world again.”
***
I opened my eyes slowly.
Perhaps because I had been unconscious for a long time, my vision was blurry.
I blinked my eyelids a few times and quickly regained focus.
‘Here is.’
As soon as I realized that this was the cage I was trapped in, I jumped up.
‘What time is it?’
It was completely dark outside, and only a few candles were lit inside.
I had no idea what time it was.
When I looked out the window, I saw a round moon.
‘Is today the full moon?’
They said they would start the ritual at midnight on the day of the full moon.
I tried to bring my hand to the bar unconsciously, but it hurt my hand.
‘Ack.’
If tonight was that night, there was no time to sit like this.
‘How long exactly have I been unconscious?’
Apparently, there were a few days left before I lost consciousness.
I clenched and opened my palms and looked down at them.
And I remembered the kind voice of the god Knut.
[I will give you another chance.]
God gave me another chance.
[Before the ceremony begins, go to the World Tree in the middle of Tamar land.]
‘That was the World Tree.’
A huge and mysterious tree that sprouted after the land of Tamar was purified and grew at an incredible speed.
“What next? What should I do next…!”
[You will find out when you go, my daughter.]
With those last words, God sent me out of God’s space.
‘I have to go to the World Tree.’
In order to prevent what would happen in the future and put everything back to the way it was, I had to go to the World Tree.
‘However…How should I get there?’
I was now trapped in a huge cage. Even if I touched the bars, the bars would bounce my body away, so I couldn’t touch them carelessly.
‘Should I wait for the right time to take me out and head to the ritual site?’
However, it was a ceremony they had been waiting for for so long, and there was no way the security wouldn’t be strict that I could escape.
Maybe they’ll make me unconscious again and perform the ritual.
So I had to somehow get out of here before they took me out and took me to the ritual site.
‘I don’t know exactly what day today is.’
Judging by the round moon outside the window, it seemed like today was the full moon.
Moreover, the people who were watching me in the room had disappeared.
If my guess is correct, they might have disappeared to prepare for the ritual.
‘From what I saw at first glance in ancient times, the power of many people was needed to prepare for the ceremony.’
If so, then there really isn’t much time left.
Judging by the way my surroundings were getting dark, I must have had at most two hours left.
‘What should I do? Please, remember!’
I grabbed a handful of my hair and squeezed out my thoughts.
For a moment, I missed Arsene.
If it had been Arsene, he might have taken me out of here.
Because he said he would protect me at all costs.
But I quickly shook off the thought and shook my head.
I didn’t have time to think about this.
Since Arsene said he would protect me at all costs, I will also protect Arsene at any cost.
I will stop all of this and make Arsene happy.
After making a promise, I jumped up from my seat. Since I couldn’t stay still until the ritual started, I was planning on hitting my body until the cage opened.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
After nodding my head, I was about to hit the bars with all my might.
“Lady!”
A familiar voice called me.
