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Cale Henituse walked languidly in a forest full of deathly creatures.
His steps were slow, as if he was walking on a never-ending road, as if he had all the time in the world.
Because he did.
"Is it the 500th round?" he asked.
A click of the tongue rang in his head.
"You poor thing."
"Do not pity me," he spoke to the being beside him.
An imaginary being, if you will. The invisible being was the original owner of the earth ancient power, the one being that was always consistent throughout his journey in this unknown world he fell into.
He gained several ancient powers throughout his journey, but he always acquired the earth ancient power with him.
Maybe it's because of the grandiose house that came with it.
Or maybe it's because he understood the ancient being's loneliness as well.
Since they were frequently left alone in this world.
"You..."
"I'm tired."
"...Cale."
"What was my name again?" he asked.
It's because he's lived so many years that the memories keep slipping past him. It was only the earth ancient power who knew his history because of that damn test.
"Kim Roksu."
The answer came quickly as if he said this hundreds of times.
He probably did.
"Kim...Roksu..." he muttered, his tongue stiff at the unusual name. "Right, Korean. Korea."
"...yes."
"Why am I here?"
"We do not know. We never knew the answer."
Cale gently closed his eyes at the answer. He wanted to scream at the heavens and tear his hair out. He yearned for freedom against this arduous journey that was forced upon him.
"But I'm just too tired."
A solemn sigh and a warm pat on the shoulder was given as an attempt to console him.
Cale quickly arrived at the white marbled building and sat on the patio. With gusto, he opened the bottle of expensive wine in his hand.
"Cheers."
He raised the bottle in front of him and swung it.
And he waited.
He waited for the world to end once again.
At first, he fought for his life.
Because Kim Roksu hated dying. He hated being hurt the most.
But then the smallest incidents happen. From accidentally ingesting poison to breaking his body due to his greed for multiple ancient powers. He even died once after getting hit by a carriage.
He chuckled to himself as the memories slowly poured into him.
"Did you know I was skewered by Choi Han?" he snickered.
"I know," the response came with a snort. "It's because of you."
"I know," he agreed softly.
Building rapport was always tedious for him. He always kept to himself, and preferred to keep his cards close. It was especially hard to pretend that he didn't know anything when everything was unfolding like a terribly-written play before him.
"I wonder how they are," he whispered as he thought of the people who were his allies and enemies in multiple timelines.
"Ah, they must've lost by now."
The world began to darken as the moon disappeared. The air grew heavy, and the familiar scent permeated his senses.
It was the scent of death.
The scent that horrified yet comforted him at the same time.
"See you," he whispered as the deathly liquid poured from the heavens.
And then the world began to vanish again.
The God of Death mourned for Cale and the World again and again.
He was someone who cherished heroes, especially the tragic ones.
He needed someone like Cale to move the world, but the world continuously rejected him.
"Are you satisfied?" The God of Death growled, piercing the being beside him with an angry gaze.
"I am," The God of Balance answered softly. Several tomes of books appeared in front of Death as if to appease the enraged God. "You don't even know if this will end the way you want to."
"That's none of your business," Death answered succinctly before vanishing on the spot.
Death walked slowly upon the figure of a sleeping, battered man on the bed. The man's body was filled with multiple scars, his face painted a tired expression.
There, Death laid the books beside the sleeping man with a sorrowful expression.
"I apologise," Death whispered, touching the forehead of the man. A soft glow appeared as memories flowed, removed, and added at once. "I hope this can help you."
And then time moved once again.
When Kim Roksu opened his eyes, he was inside a novel.
[The Birth of a Hero]
"…This is going to be a problem."
Kim Roksu felt like something serious has happened to him.
And that he needed to make the most out of his new life.