I was still on the ground.
The Spiral Rod was in my hand — but it no longer felt like a weapon.
It felt… alive.
It was breathing.
A new marking had carved itself across the center of the rod:
"Epoch Fang."
Like a fang of time — forged to tear through memories.
---
Tomo (nervous tone):
"Bro… the Spiral is breaching your mental memory field.
One more burn trial… and you might lose something important."
---
I closed my eyes.
But I could still feel my skin burning.
The false memory of Aika's death still lingered —
even though I knew it wasn't real…
My heart refused to accept that.
---
Me (internally):
"So that's the Spiral's game…
Show the lie…
To hide the truth."
---
And then, Cindros stepped forward.
Emerging from the ash, calm, even… amused.
Like a professor arriving to give his final lecture.
---
Cindros (calmly):
"You're starting to understand.
But you still don't know what I truly am."
---
Me:
"You're a burnt-out Timekeeper.
A warning. That's all."
---
Cindros (soft chuckle):
"A warning?
No, Aren.
I'm your reflection.
Your tomorrow.
I'm the version of you… who won everything.
And lost everything."
---
I walked toward him, Spiral Rod tight in my hand.
Me:
"Whatever you are — I will never become you."
---
Cindros raised a single finger.
The ash around us spun into a burning Spiral Circle on the ground.
---
Cindros:
"Prove it.
Step into the memory flame.
The Spiral will show you the truth you've been running from your entire life.
But remember…
If you lie to yourself…
You will burn."
---
Tomo (panicked):
"BRO, DON'T—"
But I was already stepping in.
The moment my foot touched the circle,
the fire ignited —
and the world blinked.
---
Memory Flame Activated
---
I was in a lab.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
My father's lab.
The same floating Time Core hovered mid-air.
And I — younger, smaller — stood before it.
---
A voice echoed:
> "You said it was an accident…
But your hand reached for the Core.
Why?"
---
Me (angry):
"I didn't want anything… I was just curious!"
---
Voice (cold):
> "Lie."
---
Suddenly, my hand burned —
A real Spiral burn seared across my skin.
---
Voice (accusing):
> "You wanted to escape.
You wanted something to change.
And the Spiral gave it to you.
You've always wanted to leave everything behind."
---
Me:
"NO!! I NEVER—"
The Spiral Rod in my hand grew hotter.
I collapsed.
Breathing sharp.
Mind fading.
---
Then — someone pulled me out.
Nero.
He shattered the Spiral burn circle — dragging me out of the fire.
---
Nero (furious):
"You were searching for truth in his fire?!
You only saw what you wanted to forget.
Cindros is showing you your darkest self.
But he…
never shows his own past."
---
I gasped for air.
The Spiral mark on my hand had deepened.
My vision swam with red and ash.
---
And then, Cindros returned.
His voice steady.
His eyes… blazing.
---
Cindros:
"Aren…
You must see it now.
I didn't come here to destroy you.
I came to save you."
---
Me (teeth clenched):
"You didn't come to save me…
You came to burn me."
---
Cindros (serious):
"Join me.
Let's incinerate all broken timelines.
We'll create a single reality — one where no one dies.
Not Aika.
Not Tomo.
Not even you."
---
Me (slowly):
"You might be telling the truth…
But your truth smells like a lie."
---
Final Line (voice trembling but firm):
> "You can burn your memories if you want, Cindros…
But I'll live with mine —
Even if they hurt me.
Even if they break me."
---
To be continued…