Aether watched as the body of his younger self fell to the ground, blood spilling from the place his blade had burst through.

Ironic, a Reader Fragment, the Demon of Dread everyone feared... he doubted he even existed. He, just like the others, was made from human emotions.

But... was the book not done?

Aether stared in confusion, seeing how the book had yet to end. After all, he had defeated the final boss; wasn’t it supposed to end? Hadn’t he completed the book, had he not created a worthy ending?

But then suddenly, he felt the ground under him shake. Falling, the darkness under him was falling, so he quickly ran towards the throne, the only thing that remained.

The ground was gone, only the throne, and an empty crown that had just now appeared, after killing the Demon of Dread. Aether was confused, but who wouldn’t be? He took the crown, putting it to the side, as he sat on the throne.

...

And then he heard a voice.

...

...

’This world... It’s in chaos. Humanity really is a... evil species, they don’t even care about the fact they’re hurting themselves, truly, what a sorry sight... I knew I had to do something, after all, if they continued this, they were going to cause their own extinction with all these battles...

I knew my methods were harsh, but at the same time, I was created from their depression... that just went to show that there had to be a change, no matter what it was... though, what I didn’t know was that it might not be such a good thing. After I created the Tides and the Realm where the Dead Rest, I let the monster inside the real world... my theory was simple, if the humans had a common enemy, they would finally fight together, finally be united, and stop this fighting.

But what I didn’t expect was them to awaken these powers... and at first I didn’t mind, it didn’t seem to affect the harmony I had slowly created... but now, these powers were everything. Humanity had fallen even more than it already was. The powers became everything; those with them lived a good life, safe, but those without had to work themselves just to survive. If you didn’t have a Will, your life was over.

It only caused even more grief, even more sadness, and I felt it. And the Tides... I had created that place for humans to rest after death, for them to have a way to live beyond death, but also to have a way to get back to life; however, none cleared the trial how I had intended it, none faced all their Denial, those with powers just beat the monster, and those without never challenged it. So the trial just became a way for the powerful to be immortal; it wasn’t helping; it was making things worse.

And the city... at first I loved it, after all, it just proved that my theory had worked, people had worked together to create it, together they were alive to make a place that felt like an actual civilization, even among monsters, I was... happy, for the first time in a while. But that city soon became monopolized by the Will users... people lost their freedom, most even leaving.

Nothing was going right... and all because these Wills... it was almost like they were making the people forget everyone was human, they made them think they were above, something greater than human.

There was also the war, between Will users and the sword styles... which unfortunately lost. The one thing that I wanted to stop, war... I had truly failed. Because of me, so many had died, because of me, the world had become what it was... But at the same time... it wasn’t just my fault... I tried, I really tried my hardest, humanity just didn’t like working together...

So I knew what to do.

The destruction of the City had been the first step, and many were to follow.

But... I knew I didn’t have time... I knew you would come...

So, I’m ending this message with a request: take the crown. It will let you do one thing, whatever it is. But only one time, I wasted mine, so be careful.

Save this world, if it even can be saved."

Then the voice stopped. Leaving Aether alone on his throne... it was a lot to take in. A lot of pressure on his shoulders... a burden bigger than he had ever had. After all, he had one decision, only one chance to save the last bit of the world that could be saved.

He took the crown, hesitantly... putting it on... He had an idea...

If Will’s caused everything... then he was going to eliminate them.

Humanity was never meant to hold these powers...

But was this going to be enough, after all, the damage already caused was beyond what he could imagine, and with the whole world shaped on Will’s, how would it react, after all, everything will crumble. Was it even the right thing? Was he actually helping the world, or was he doing it even more damage? Everyone will have the same opportunities, now that Will’s are gone, but how will humanity protect themselves... and the world? Would they have time to redo everything, to adapt to this change, or will humanity go extinct?

Whatever it was, he was going to have to bear the consequences of his decision.

...

"I see... so this is what it means to be...

Human."

...

...

...

[You have created an ending for the book "Demon of Dread", Reader Aether, congratulations on clearing your Trial of Salvation... your sins may be forgiven by the gods, but they will be remembered]

[Your ascention will be starting soon]

There it was... the words he so wished to hear, after such a long time, here they were. ’It just doesn’t feel real... after years... I’m finally ascending.’

But it was real.

The world around him started to disappear; he found himself in a white room. With nothing around him, it did hurt his eyes a bit; after all, he had just been in a pure black room, and now he was in a white room. That was definitely not good for him.

...

[Ascention will start...]

Before he could react, Aether fell to the ground, clenching his chest, out of his body, his affinity started to manifest, clanging his arms and legs, just like it had done back when he used half control. The pain was intense, even more intense than when he used Erosion. And his mind, it felt heavy, as if thousands of informations were all coming inside of it, at the same time. It was too much.

He felt his vision blackening, as more Abysall matter started to consume him, to the point he was completely covered by it completly. He couldn’t see anything, just darkness.

He felt his body... decompose. It was a weird feeling; he couldn’t explain it.

...

But then the pain stopped, and his affinity retracted back into his body.

He found himself sitting back on his feet. Looking at his body... it was brand new, without any scars from his time as Reader. They were all gone. And the marks from the half control were gone. Even the small cracks that had remained.

[You have ascended into a Seeker]

Codex Class — [Seeker]

> Sync Rate: 1%

A bright smile appeared on his face as he stared at it.

’Seeker... I can’t believe it.’ He was finally the same class as his master...

Though the Codex wasn’t done.

[A Seeker has to have a path to follow... your journey as a Reader will be examined, to determine the path you will be given.]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[A being that has lived alone for most of its life, one that tried its best to survive above everything else, almost like an animal cornered by a beast stronger than it. You survived situations unimaginable, and considered impossible by even the strongest...]

[...]

[Analysis completed]

[Your Path has been stripped away.]

[You have gained a new path]

[You have gained the ability to manifest your affinity]

...

[Character Codex: Sync Stable]

Name: Aether Moirai

Age: 16

Race: Human

Affiliation: Royal Family

[Path]: —Stray of the Abyss—

> A being without a home, striving for Survival among even the most dangerous situations. You will survive, no matter what you have to do.

Knowledge Rank — [Beast]

>124/3000knowledge shard

Codex Class — [Seeker]

> Sync Rate: 1%

Affinity — [Abyss]

> A slumbering void stirs within you. It gazes back.

[Affinity Bane]: —Stranded Resolve —

[Mental Fortitude Thresholds]

> 80 — Clear Mind: Subject resists Abyssal influence entirely

> 60–79 — Subtle Echoes: Whispered thoughts emerge

> 40–59 — Instability Detected: Reflexive Abyssal traits may emerge

> 20–39 — Possession Risk: Abyss seeks control

< 20 — Vessel Breach: Control lost temporarily

Mental Fortitude: 100/100

Status: Unstable — Subject is in full control.

[Skills / Abilities]

Abyssal Abilities — [Shadow Speech][Mask of the Fool][Abyssal Matter]

Skills — [Echo Word],[Eden][Whispers of the Lost][Erosion]

[Relics]

—[Hair extension]

— [Mantle of Quiet Dread]

—[VoidPiercer Wound (Replica)]

—[Unwavering Paint]

—[Tear of Darkness]

—[Antler of Promise]

***

[End of part three of volume one: Demon of Dread]

[End volume one: Weight of Becoming a Human]