But the soul consumption was complete. Jin's soul was devoured by Sahara. With a thud, his lifeless body fell to the ground.
"You're too late for that," she whispered coldly.
Sahara gazed at Jin's body with cold, detached eyes.
"Leaving your body like this could cause problems."
A surge of spiritual energy gathered in her palm, ready to obliterate Jin's body.
"Now, now, I can't let you do that," said Albedo, suddenly appearing right in front of her.
"Oh? And who might you be?" she asked with a smirk.
As she spoke, spears of spiritual energy rose from the ground, poised to pierce Albedo from all directions.
"That won't do."
With a wave of his hand, Albedo effortlessly destroyed all the spears.
'Interesting! Who is he? He's been watching this whole time but didn't act until now,' she thought.
"I suppose I forgot to introduce myself," Albedo said with a calm smile. "I am Albedo Samael, just a humble researcher."
"Albedo Samael? Stop lying! I can't sense any Divinity from you," she proclaimed, clearly confused.
"You can't, huh..."
Albedo sighed, then fixed her with an intense gaze.
"Very well. I grant you permission to gaze upon my true form."
Sahara stared at Albedo, and for a moment, her eyes widened in shock.
'What?!' she thought in horror.
Her bright golden eyes darkened, then suddenly cracked and shattered.
Spiritual energy poured from her shattered pupils.
"How?! How is this possible?" she screamed in horror. "How could you possess thirteen souls? A-And all of them have Ascended!"
'How could a monster like this exist in the human realm? Even in my true form, I doubt I can defeat him,' the realization struck her, sending a chill through her entire being.
"Leave," said Albedo, glancing at Jin's lifeless body. "Hurry, I won't say it again."
"You're letting me go?"
"I could kill you, but you have a role to play in the future."
Not daring to ask further, she vanished into the shadows.
With that, time resumed its flow.
Mira approached Albedo, accompanied by Luke.
"What happened to him?" Luke asked in disbelief.
"His soul is gone," Mira replied.
"What? So we can't... he's dead."
Albedo, who had been glancing at Jin, suddenly smiled.
"Would you look at that? He did the impossible again."
"What do you mean?" Luke asked.
"I will be performing a forbidden art."
"No, you can't," Mira interjected. "Forbidden arts are banned by O.R.D.E.R. Have you forgotten that?"
"Oh, come on. It's not like anyone is going to know about it."
"Lord Albedo, they're banned for a reason..."
"Mira, silence."
Mira stopped arguing when she heard the serious tone in Albedo's voice. She didn't dare to challenge him further.
She had been with Albedo for years, but she had never heard him speak like that before.
****************
"Oh well, looks like I'm dead."
Jin lay down in the endless white void.
[Innate World: Blank Page]
'There's still so much I need to do. I haven't freed her yet. But I guess it doesn't matter anymore.'
The thought weighed heavily in Jin's mind as he took a deep breath. He glanced at Blank Page, which was slowly fading away.
"So, why did you bring me here? Can't you at least let me die in peace?"
"Sorry about that." The future Jin replied.
Jin turned his gaze towards his future self, who appeared translucent, like clear glass. Despite this, Jin couldn't see any worry in those pure black eyes—only a faint, relieved smile on his fading face.
"You seem quite happy. Does my death bring you joy or something?"
"Oh no, you've misunderstood," the future Jin replied softly. "I am happy because I am no longer your future."
"Is that so."
The future Jin moved closer to where Jin lay and sat beside him. He glanced at the old red thread wrapped around Jin's right hand and smiled slightly.
"So, now that you remember her..."
"I haven't remembered everything," Jin interrupted. "I still don't understand how... how she died. Why did she die?"
"Of course," the future Jin murmured, turning his eyes away.
"Hey." Jin called to him, voice firm. "Look me in the eye and tell me who... Who dared to take my sister's soul and body?"
With a sigh, the future Jin turned back, meeting Jin's intense crimson gaze.
"You already know the answer. An Abyss Lord. Its name is...fkgdididifkgurrogtihghk" His voice trailed off into an unpronounceable string of sounds.
(Human mouths can't form the names of higher beings.)
"Because of that fragment of his innate ability?"
"Yes, and now it has our soul too."
"Chh," Jin clicked his tongue in frustration.
"That's it then. I've lost Mathematician, and now... I'm about to die."
"Not yet," the future Jin replied calmly.
"What do you mean?" Jin asked, surprised.
"The Mathematician isn't gone just yet," the future Jin suggested.
"So what? I can't use it on her because of the soul contract, nor can I stop it by using it on myself. It would violate the rules."
"Yes, I'm well aware of that."
"Then why bring it up?" Jin asked, irritation creeping into his voice.
"I can't believe I was this dense back then," the future Jin muttered to himself.
"Then what?"
"Fool, we'll create a new soul."
Hearing his response, Jin's face twisted in disbelief.
'What a moron,' he thought, shaking his head in exasperation.
He rubbed his eyes with his hand.
'You're right. I can't be like you. There's no way I could be this big of a fool,' he thought, feeling utterly embarrassed.
"What's wrong?" the future Jin asked.
"Am I about to hit my head really hard in the future or something?" Jin replied, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"No, why do you ask?"
"Because how could I possibly be this much of a moron?"
Irritated by Jin's words, the future Jin smacked him on the head.
"Listen to me, you piece of garbage. You have no idea what mathematician can do."
"Even so, nothing can create or destroy a soul. That's the absolute law," Jin retorted.
"You fool," future Jin sneered. "Mathematician isn't ....." He stopped himself. "Actually, never mind. But know this: it can create a soul."
Jin stared at his future self, trying to process the information.
"Alright... So that means we can not only recreate my soul but also modify it?"
"Yes," future Jin replied. "Maybe I wasn't as hopeless back then as I thought."
"Why are you talking like I'm some long-forgotten relic? Just how old are you?"
"Hmm, let me think." Future Jin paused, looking thoughtful. "I stopped counting after 300 billion years."
"300... What?!?!" Jin's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes. Why?" Future Jin asked, looking innocent.
Jin stared at him for a moment, then sighed, choosing not to dwell on it. He changed the subject.
"So... can we bring back the Mathematician again?"
"No, we can't."
"Why not?" Jin asked, confused.
"There are things you don't need to know yet," future Jin replied cryptically.
*************
"Lord Albedo, are you really serious about this?" Mira asked, drawing the mystic circle while still trying to dissuade him.
"Yep, pretty sure," Albedo replied casually, completely unfazed.
"B-But my lord."
The mystic circle was finally complete, sprawling across the barren ground in intricate patterns. The strange purple liquid that formed it shimmered under the open sky, casting an eerie glow. At the center of the circle, Jin's lifeless body lay still, his form carefully placed as though the ritual had been designed solely for him. The air around the circle felt heavy, as if the earth itself was holding its breath, waiting for what would come next.
"Wh-what are you going to do, Master?" Luke asked, his voice trembling.
"I'm trying to bring his new soul back from the unseen realm," Albedo replied calmly.
"New soul?! What?!"
"We're about to perform the Ritual of Awakening."
"What?!" Luke stammered. "Ri-Ritual... of..."
His breathing became heavy, panic setting in as he collapsed to the ground.
"No... no..." he muttered, overwhelmed.
"It's alright," Albedo said softly, placing a hand on Luke's head.
[Skill: Calm Mind (IV)]
Luke's panic slowly eased, his breathing returning to normal.
"You're still afraid of this?" Albedo sighed.
Mira gently lifted Luke off the ground, concern etched across her face.
"Are you alright?" she asked, searching his eyes for signs of reassurance.
"Y-yes, I am," Luke stammered, though his voice still trembled with anxiety.
Meanwhile, Albedo returned his focus to the ritual, his gaze fixed on Jin's lifeless body.
"Now it's all up to you," he said, his tone serious. "I can guide you to the unseen realm, but you'll have to find your soul on your own."
With determination, Albedo placed his hand on the edge of the mystic circle. As he did, his Divine energy began to flow slowly into the circle, causing the purple liquid to shimmer and pulse with power.
[Forbidden Art: Astral Projection]
***************
Jin slowly opened his eyes, finding himself before the broken gate of a city, just as he remembered it. But he knew this place was not the human realm. The atmosphere was thick with a mysterious presence, no their was many, and the world around him was shrouded in darkness.
As he looked up, his breath caught in his throat. A massive eye loomed over him, its iris stretching across the entire sky, glimmering with an otherworldly light. It was a single, godlike gaze that seemed to penetrate the very fabric of his being, watching him with an intensity that made him feel utterly insignificant.
'So this is the Unseen Realm,'