Cycles of Eternity

Raku stepped cautiously into the hall that opened before him after defeating the imposing Cerberus. It was a vast, lavishly decorated space: large velvet sofas adorned the corners, while mahogany tables were laden with food that seemed freshly prepared. The air carried a warm, almost homely aroma, a stark contrast to the horrors they had faced until now. Three additional corridors connected to the hall, apart from the one he had just traversed.

He kept his guard up, analyzing every corner of the room, aware that this calm could easily be a trap. Then, the sound of footsteps echoed from one of the corridors.

Raku turned quickly, his stance ready for any attack. However, what emerged from the shadows was a familiar figure: Kaori. Upon seeing her, his body relaxed momentarily, and a mixture of relief and concern washed over him.

"Kaori!" he exclaimed, running toward her.

Kaori's condition, however, immediately set off his alarms. Her clothes were stained with blood, and her face looked exhausted, though her expression remained resolute.

"Are you hurt?" Raku asked, his voice tense as he visually inspected her.

Kaori, somewhat taken aback by his reaction, quickly shook her head.

"No, I'm not," she replied nervously, her eyes falling on Raku's missing arm. "What happened to you? Your arm…"

"I'm fine," Raku interrupted, trying to reassure her. His tone was firm, though he couldn't suppress a faint sigh of frustration. "I fought a Cerberus. Lost the arm, but I survived. That's what matters."

Kaori still seemed incredulous but stopped pressing when Raku offered a small smile. Without saying another word, she raised her hands to heal Raku's visible wounds. Burns and cuts began to fade under the effect of her ability, but his arm showed no signs of regeneration.

"I can't…" Kaori murmured, clearly frustrated by her limitations.

Raku placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry. I'm grateful for what you've done. Now we need to focus on finding the others."

As they discussed their next steps, more footsteps echoed from another corridor. Both turned, ready for whatever might come, but once again, the figure that appeared was familiar: Shizuku.

Shizuku, though clearly exhausted, maintained her usual composure. Raku and Kaori hurried toward her.

"Are you okay?" Kaori asked, her voice full of concern.

"I'm fine… just a little tired," Shizuku replied in her usual calm but slightly strained tone.

Kaori nodded and used her ability to alleviate Shizuku's exhaustion, allowing her to breathe deeply in relief.

Not long after, the sound of another person's footsteps resonated from the third corridor. This time, the figure that emerged was Eriri. Seeing her, Raku and Kaori froze momentarily.

Eriri was covered in blood, her hair disheveled, and her clothes torn. Her expression was serene, but her appearance told a different story.

"I'm fine," she said before they could ask. Her tone was firm, though exhaustion was evident in her voice.

Kaori, however, insisted on relieving her fatigue, to which Eriri did not object. Once they were confident they could continue, they decided to explore the last corridor in search of Shirogami.

The group moved in silence, their footsteps echoing through the hallway. After a few minutes, they found Shirogami lying on the ground. His body convulsed violently, and low growls escaped his throat.

"Shirogami!" Kaori cried, rushing toward him.

They tried to wake him, but there was no response. His face was tense, and his body seemed to be tormented from within.

Kaori attempted to use her ability to heal him, but it had no effect. The severe wound on his left arm appeared to worsen, with the corroded flesh exposing dark marks that spread like roots.

"It's not working…" Kaori murmured, desperate.

Eriri knelt beside Shirogami, tears welling in her eyes as she frantically thought of a solution. Suddenly, something changed in her.

A dark aura began to emanate from her body, enveloping her entirely. Her eyes emptied of emotion, and her face took on a cold, distant expression. Without warning, she extended her hand toward the wyvern's corpse, still lying in the chamber where Shirogami had fought.

The dark aura spread like a river, engulfing the wyvern and consuming it completely within seconds. Then, Eriri turned her attention to Shirogami, placing her hand on his chest. The dark energy surrounding her began to flow into him, merging with a strange force that seemed to emanate from his own body.

Shirogami's gravely injured left arm began to regenerate slowly. However, the process left dark markings and pulsing grooves on his skin, like permanent scars from the damage endured. Simultaneously, Eriri's left arm was marked with an intricate red design, resembling flower petals.

Finally, the dark energy surrounding Eriri faded, and her body collapsed onto Shirogami. The rest of the group stood frozen, stunned by what they had just witnessed.

Kaori, Raku, and Shizuku exchanged glances, struggling to process the events. Despite the questions swirling in their minds, they understood that the priority now was to get Eriri and Shirogami out of there.

"We need to get them to the hall. They need rest," said Raku, lifting Shirogami with effort.

Kaori and Shizuku took care of Eriri as the group made their way back to the starting point.

The group finally reached the hall, physically and mentally exhausted. Shirogami and Eriri were still unconscious, so they carefully placed them on the sofas. The soft lights of the room, combined with its luxurious decor, offered a brief respite from the tension they had endured.

As they waited for their companions to wake up, they decided to talk, hoping to ease the atmosphere and reflect on their experiences. Each of them shared details about the challenges they had faced and the powers that seemed to have awakened within them.

It was then that they noticed something peculiar.

"Kaori, has your hair always had that white streak?" asked Raku, leaning closer to her.

Kaori touched a section of her hair in surprise. A streak, once the same dark brown as the rest, was now completely white.

"No… this wasn't here before," she replied, clearly puzzled.

"You're not the only one," added Shizuku, lifting a silver strand of her own hair.

Curious, Raku inspected his hair in one of the nearby mirrors and noticed a bright red streak standing out against his dark blue locks.

"And Eriri?" Shizuku asked, glancing at the still-unconscious girl.

"Black…" murmured Kaori as she leaned in to observe her more closely.

Though intrigued by the phenomenon, they decided not to dwell on it for now. There were more pressing questions to answer.

Gradually, Eriri began to stir, her eyes fluttering open as she murmured something inaudible.

"Where… am I?" she asked, disoriented, her gaze sweeping across the room.

Kaori hurried to explain, ensuring Eriri was comfortable. Meanwhile, Shirogami opened his eyes shortly after. His pupils briefly glowed a faint purple before returning to normal.

Upon seeing his friends, Shirogami let out a deep sigh, as though an invisible weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Are… you all okay?" he asked, his genuine concern surprising the group.

Raku frowned slightly.

"You're asking us that? Look at yourself," he said, though his tone carried more relief than reprimand.

Kaori, observing Shirogami closely, noticed something different about him. While his face retained its usual lack of expression, there was a subtle brightness in his eyes, a spark that hadn't been there before.

"You look… more human, Shirogami," Kaori remarked, trying to find the right words.

Shirogami nodded weakly, unsure of how to respond. Something had changed within him, and though he didn't fully understand it yet, he could feel it.

The group took a moment to explain what had happened while he was unconscious. Then, they decided to eat some of the food on the nearby tables. Although they hesitated at first, hunger eventually won, and each bite restored a bit of their lost energy.

Just as they began discussing their next move, a voice echoed through the room.

"Well, that should be my job."

They instantly tensed, searching for the source of the voice. Their eyes locked onto the table before them, where a peculiar puppet in the form of a humanoid rabbit had appeared. It wore a top hat, carried a cane, and moved with an exaggerated, theatrical flair.

"Who are you?!" Raku demanded, springing into a defensive stance as his companions followed suit.

The rabbit raised its hands in a gesture of mock innocence.

"Oh, come now, no need to be so tense. I have no intention of attacking you," it said, hopping slightly to the side as if to appear harmless.

When none of them lowered their guard, the rabbit shrugged dramatically and continued.

"Well, I'm simply here to provide you with some information—at least a part of it. But before we begin… congratulations! You've successfully completed the trial, and with it, you'll now be able to return home."

The group remained silent for a moment before the news filled them with relief. Though still cautious, they couldn't help but relax slightly at the rabbit's words. 

Kaori stepped forward. 

"Where are we? What test?" she asked, her voice still laced with distrust. 

The rabbit twirled its cane before responding. 

"You're in a dungeon. The test was simple: survive and awaken your powers. If you failed, well…" It paused dramatically. "…you'd die." 

The rabbit's cold words made everyone clench their teeth. The indifference with which it spoke about their lives was infuriating, but before anyone could respond, the rabbit continued. 

"You should be grateful, you know? With your powers awakened, you now stand a chance to survive what's coming." 

The group exchanged tense glances. 

"What do you mean by 'what's coming'?" Shizuku asked, her tone icy. 

The rabbit spun its cane again, clearly enjoying the attention, and began speaking with theatrical emphasis and drama. 

"You see, the world you know isn't as simple as it seems. Perhaps you've already suspected this, given your current predicament. But allow me to explain, from the very beginning—since the creation of existence itself." 

The rabbit paced slowly along the table, as though narrating an epic tale. 

"At first, all existed in absolute chaos. There were no rules, no restrictions. Ice could burn, fire could freeze, and water could flow into the sky. But if things had remained that way, existence itself would have been unsustainable. Nothing could take form, nothing could endure. So, the rules were established, dictating what could and couldn't be. Ice doesn't burn, fire doesn't freeze, and gravity pulls things down. These rules formed the foundation that allowed reality to be born and endure." 

It paused briefly, casting an enigmatic smile at the group. 

"And thus, existence flourished under this balance. Over time, creatures appeared, followed by thinking beings. But these beings… they were different. They weren't content to simply exist under the rules. No, they wanted something more—to manipulate reality itself." 

The rabbit pointed its cane at each of them in turn. 

"Tell me, what kind of insolence is that? How could the created dare to alter the creator? This could not be allowed. The rules were tightened to maintain order. The thoughts, desires, and intentions of these creatures could no longer so easily alter reality. But… it still wasn't enough." 

The rabbit's tone grew darker, its gaze piercing. 

"For some reason, these creatures found ways to circumvent the rules, harnessing energies they gave many names: mana, qi, cursed energy, prana, and so on. They used these forces to twist the limitations imposed upon them. How dare they? How could they be allowed to challenge the very rules that governed existence? It was an affront to the rules themselves." 

It raised its cane high, as if pronouncing judgment. 

"And so, the rules grew stricter still. The powers of thinking beings were diminished. Where once they could shape destiny with a thought, they could now barely summon a spark of fire. Where once they could destroy universes with their will, they could now barely harm planets. Each generation of thinking beings was bound tighter and tighter until they were reduced to what you are now—shadows of what they once were." 

The group listened in silence, their hearts heavy with the weight of the rabbit's tale. It spun elegantly and pointed toward them. 

"However, not all were destined to be mere pawns of these rules. In every era, individuals arose—monsters, geniuses whose very existence defied balance. Beings capable of breaking the chains, of tearing holes in the limitations that imprisoned them. These beings forced the rules to adapt again, weakening them—but only slightly… for now." 

The rabbit paused to let its words sink in, then continued with growing intensity. 

"And that brings us to this place. This is one of the turning points, one of the keys to unlocking true freedom. Here, where you stand, is where the breaking of limits begins. Every trial you've overcome, every power you've awakened, all of it is part of a greater process." 

It leaned closer, its voice dropping to a whisper that still carried weight. 

"Because, you see, limits were never meant to last forever. Every restriction that is imposed eventually meets someone strong enough, stubborn enough, or mad enough to break it. And when the limits shatter, a new era begins." 

The rabbit straightened, its smile now a blend of malice and satisfaction.

"This new era will be unlike anything you have ever known. It will be a time of chaos, of conflict, of unleashed power. But it will also be a time of opportunity. The rules that kept you chained will fall, and the world will return to what it was in the beginning: pure, unrestrained, and free to be shaped by the strong." 

The group stood frozen in place, processing what they had just heard. The rabbit spun around once more, as if the weight of its words were nothing more than a lighthearted dance. 

"So, my dear survivors, congratulations on making it this far. But remember this: what you've seen and learned here is just the beginning. Hold tight to your powers, for the real challenge is yet to come." 

With those words, the rabbit let out a chilling laugh, its figure beginning to fade away. But its voice, resonant and mocking, lingered in the air: 

"See you in the new era!" 

And then, the room fell silent.