There was no sky.
No ground.
Only Spiral.
Everywhere.
Spinning.
Burning.
Thinking.
I am Aren Kael.
Standing at the heart of the Spiral Core.
And before me—
Cindros.
Just like me…
But burned through and through.
Inside. Outside.
And maybe… even within himself.
---
Cindros (calm):
"You've reached the Flame of Forgiveness.
Good…
Now watch what the Flame of Never Forget can do."
---
Spiral fire poured from his eyes.
His entire body was cracked with black fissures—
Like a statue sculpted by an angry god.
On his back, a Spiral Rod was fused—
A blade forming his spine.
---
Tomo (shocked):
"Bro… his rod has fused inside his body.
This isn't Spiral mastery…
It's Spiral possession."
---
Me (gripping my rod):
"I didn't come here to become him.
I came to remind him…
Who I am."
---
[Spiral Combat Mode: ACTIVATE]
---
Cindros:
Ashfire Echo Blades!
Two time-seared blades formed in his hands—
Each forged from a timeline long burned.
> "These are the memories you never chose.
Now they choose you."
---
I spun.
The Spiral Rod cutting flames melting in the air.
Me:
Epoch Fang – Mirror Slash!
A wave of light burst from my rod—
Clashing against Cindros' blades.
A timeline was sliced.
---
Flash Vision:
I stood with Aika—
In a peaceful alternate future.
But that timeline shattered.
---
Me (internally):
"You erase what I try to protect?!"
---
Cindros (angrily):
> "You didn't create that future.
So you don't deserve it."
---
Tomo (glitching):
"Bro… he just triggered your guilt timeline! Be careful!"
---
Suddenly—
Cindros pulled me into a memory loop.
---
[CORRUPTED MEMORY ACTIVATED]
My mother screamed—
I ran—
Touching the Time Core.
But this time, she shouted:
> "You were selfish, Aren!
You left me… because you wanted to escape!"
---
I trembled.
The rod flickered.
I staggered.
---
Cindros:
> "I've burned every world where you survived."
---
But then—
I closed my eyes.
Whispered:
> "I was selfish…
But I've returned.
And I won't let it burn again."
---
The rod flared suddenly—
The Flame of Forgiveness ignited.
A Spiral mark blinked:
"Cycle Break – Dual Memory Fusion."
---
Me:
Epoch Fang × Flame Break – Dual Spiral Slash!!
I spun the Spiral Rod with both hands—
Tearing through the Spiral flames with golden light and crimson streaks.
---
Cindros:
Ash Spiral Overload: Memory Burn Zone!!
The chamber shook violently—
Time distorted.
Ash and screams of memories roared as one.
---
We charged through the Spiral storm—
Colliding in a clash so intense—
Even Tomo's voice was drowned out.
---
The final moment.
A scream.
A flash.
The world turned white.
---
To be continued…