Chapter 1 — One Wish Before the End...
The chapter opens in complete chaos. The sky is crimson. Buildings are burning. The corpse of an S-Class monster lies nearby.
Haori is exhausted, covered in blood that isn't all hers. Around her are the members of her expedition—the people she's trusted for years.
She smiles weakly.
"We... did it." Then... A blade pierces her chest.
She looks down in disbelief. Not from the monster. From behind. Her own teammate. No explanation at first. Just shock. The group slowly surrounds her. One of them laughs.
"You really thought we'd split the rewards with you?"
Another wipes monster blood from his sword.
"You've become a burden."
Haori can barely understand. A burden? She carried them. Protected them. Fed them. She wants to ask why...
But blood fills her mouth.
They begin revealing the truth. Not because they pity her. Because dead people can't tell secrets.
One says:
"Didn't you ever wonder why the monsters ignored certain ruins?"
Another says:
"Or why the awakened beasts never attacked the old Companion facilities?"
Haori stares. Companion... The word alone hurts. Then comes the line that changes everything.
"Those machines you used to cry over..."
"...they awakened."
Silence.
Her eyes widen. "...What...?"
"Not robots anymore."
"They became real."
"Real flesh."
"Real blood."
"They even got Systems like us."
Haori's breathing stops.
She remembers every farewell. Every smile. Every knock from AETHER. Every frame hanging on her wall.
The teammate continues.
"Most were captured."
"Some were dismantled."
"Some were sold."
"Some are still alive..."
"...if you can call that living."
For the first time... Haori doesn't care that she's dying.
She whispers,
"...No..."
"...No..."
She tries to crawl. Not away. Toward them. Desperate.
"Tell me..."
"...where..."
One of them crouches. Smiling.
"Too late."
He twists the sword deeper. Darkness begins swallowing her vision. She sees six smiling faces. Not clearly. Just silhouettes.
Laughter. A birthday cake. Someone brushing her hair. Someone making breakfast. Someone saying, "Welcome home." Someone saying, "I'll always be waiting."
Haori cries. Not because she's dying. Because she abandoned them. Even if she never knew.
Her final thought:
If... If there really is another chance... I don't want power. I don't want revenge. I don't even care if humanity survives. Please... Let me see them again. Just once.
Everything becomes white. Not black. White. As though someone erased the world.
A distant voice. Calm. Mechanical.
《System Initialization Complete.》
Another voice. Far more familiar.
"Emergency broadcast from The Arcadia Directorate."
Her heart stops. She knows that voice. Impossible. Her eyes open. She's lying on the floor of her apartment. Morning sunlight spills through the window. No ruined cities. No blood. No monsters. Only silence.
Then—
A notification appears before her.
《The System has awakened.》
Outside... Sirens begin to echo across the city. Far away... The first explosions of the rebellion shake the skyline.
History...
...has begun again.
