Chapter 394 The Reverse Spiral — The Battle at the Gates of Time
Before Rui's foot touched the light of the portal, the air around her suddenly froze, as if time had stopped to make room for the most terrifying reality—a moment where hope and fear intertwined. The leaves, which had been gently dancing in the wind, suddenly wilted, anticipating something ominous. Darkness enveloped the sky, setting the stage for the arrival of a figure feared by many.
A triangle-shaped symbol appeared in the sky. The space trembled. The magic mist shattered. And from the rift in time, torn apart by ancient will, a man in a long hood with silver eyes stepped through, draining color from the surroundings, like lightning striking the ocean floor. Tear-like stars fell from the sky as if to mourn the arrival of Loki, a legendary being both hated and loved. Hope and fear danced in unison within Rui's heart.
Loki.
"Stop." His voice was deep and cold, like metal that had never been touched by human hands. Each word created vibrations of suspicion in Rui's chest, which now beat like a relentless war drum.
Rui reflexively stepped back, her fingers trembling as she felt the heavy weight enveloping the room.
Joanna squinted her eyes. "Loki..." Her voice quivered, struggling to contain the anger and pain that had long been buried. It was as if every wave of her emotions was fighting against the tyranny that had returned to haunt her.
"Omega is dying, Joanna," he said bluntly. "And you are the cause." His words clung to the walls of her consciousness, echoing like a death toll. Shame, guilt, and anger intermingled, constructing an invisible wall between them.
Joanna held her breath. The wounds she had sealed for centuries began to bleed again with a single sentence. Her face turned in dim light, obscured by the shadows of memories that refused to fade. Love and betrayal converged in a corner of darkness, waiting to be revealed.
"Black Sun... still spins in the sky. And the seeds of destruction stem from the Chronos curse you bear." Every second felt as though it could shatter the foundation she had painstakingly built throughout her life.
"Silence." Joanna's voice trembled, tension spreading throughout her body. Each word was a clash, every note a signal of the helplessness that thickened in the air.
"No," Loki replied, approaching, his dark aura enveloping Joanna like an unrelenting storm. "Do you remember what happened at the Tower of One-Third? Jeanne, your sister—burned alive by the Omega Council because they knew your body harbored the Chronos curse. She took your place, and you... you exacted revenge on the world." His words were laced with a judgmental tone, as if each letter carried a weight capable of shattering souls.