The wind that morning felt heavier.
As if something ancient had rolled over in its sleep.
Rudra stood on the rooftop of the school, staring out at the city skyline while students shuffled below like ants in uniforms. His hands were in his pockets. His schoolbag hung lazily off one shoulder. His eyes, however—were far away.
He hadn't slept.
Not truly.
Because last night, he heard it.
> A bell.
Distant.
Deep.
Like it had been buried under stone for a thousand years.
And now it was tolling.
And then—
> [Zix Core Sync: 3.1%]
[Condition Met: Gate to Realm 2 — Unsealing Begins]
[Warning: Realm Energy Signature Wild – High Duality Detected]
[Avatars Detected: 4]
> Avatar 2 – Lich Emperor (☠️)
Avatar 3 – Hero of Light (⚔️)
Avatar 5 – Devourer Barbarian (🩸)
Avatar 6 – High Elf Maiden (🌿)
> [Sync Lock: Awaiting First Pull...]
Rudra blinked.
The second world had begun to open.
But unlike the first—this one struggled to stabilize.
---
Meanwhile — Elsewhere in the Multiverse
The second realm was nothing like the Demon World.
It was split — literally — between two colossal continents suspended in the sky, joined only by a broken divine bridge that shimmered with celestial chains.
One continent was ruled by light — gleaming citadels, glowing lakes, and temples carved in floating white marble. Warriors clad in blue-gold armors rode beasts of light and chanted mantras to ancient gods.
At the center of it stood a temple-fortress, housing a warrior adorned in sacred tattoos, his body lean and scarred, his hair tied in a crimson warrior's knot. A strange spear crackled in his hand — not made of metal, but a crystallized essence of devotion and rage.
He stood facing a massive statue of Vishnu — but it looked different here. The face was serene, yet ferocious. A thousand eyes opened across its body. Ten arms held ten different kinds of weapons never seen on Earth.
The warrior raised his blade.
Not to worship.
But to challenge.
> "I don't pray to gods," he said.
"I inherit them."
---
Far across the broken sky—on the second continent—lay a kingdom buried under black mist and crumbling towers.
The dead walked freely here. Armies of skeletons, undead beasts, and soul-bound mages roamed across poisoned fields and decaying cities. At its heart stood a black citadel, forged from bones and obsidian thorns.
And in its throne room sat a figure upon a seat of chained corpses.
The Lich Emperor.
He wore no crown — for he had nailed it to his chest.
His eyes glowed cold blue, and his body—what remained of it—was skeletal beneath silver robes layered in ancient seals and tattoos of forbidden magic.
He spoke to no one.
And yet—he whispered constantly.
To something.
Or someone.
> "He has touched the first gate," the lich murmured.
"The Demon King walks.
Then soon… we shall awaken too."
---
Back on Earth
Rudra stood still as the cold wind bit through his blazer. The sky seemed to hum faintly with colors that didn't belong in this world. For a moment—just a moment—he saw a reflection of that divine bridge shimmering above the city skyline.
A fracture in reality.
He closed his eyes.
> [Avatar Selection for Second Realm: Awaiting Sync Anchor]
Would you like to initiate first consciousness link?
"…Yes."
The world tilted.
---
He woke inside the body of the Hero Warrior.
No warning.
No buffer.
Just heat, muscle, and power.
His feet stood on a battlefield.
Broken spears. Burned banners. Blood-stained earth.
Before him lay a thousand corpses.
Behind him, soldiers with golden tattoos raised their weapons in silence.
He was their god.
But in his chest… he felt Rudra.
He remembered Rudra.
And he knew:
> "I am not the light.
I am the hand of his judgment."
---
At that moment, in the dead sky above, lightning tore open a black scar.
In the Lich Emperor's throne, the dead began to stir.