Haruto walked with heavy steps, followed closely by Lucius, who showed no signs of stopping. The world around them felt increasingly unfamiliar. The barren land and the heavy air made him sense a power far beyond what he had ever known.
"What do you want to show me, Lucius?" Haruto asked, his voice filled with confusion. He felt as if the normal life he had dreamed of was slowly slipping from his grasp. With every step he took toward this unknown place, he felt as though he was being drawn deeper into an inescapable fate.
Lucius stopped for a moment and turned his gaze to Haruto. "Here, Haruto, you will find the answers you've been searching for. A world far greater than you can imagine awaits you. And more than that, your power—the one that has been dormant all this time—will awaken here."
Haruto shook his head. "I don't want to be what you say I am. I just want to live like an ordinary person. To spend my days with Aoi, Mizuki, and the others. That's all."
Lucius didn't respond immediately. Instead, he continued walking. "The power within you is not something you can simply discard, Haruto. It is a part of you, and if you don't understand it, it will become a disaster."
Haruto felt the tension within him grow stronger. Facing the truth that he was Arlan Von Echeveria, a legendary war king, made him feel torn apart. Even though his body now belonged to Haruto Kisaragi, the soul and power within him belonged to someone who had died long ago.
"What should I do?" Haruto whispered to himself. Ever since meeting Lucius, the world he had considered a safe haven from his past was now crumbling piece by piece.
After a while, they arrived at an open chamber surrounded by massive stone pillars. In the center stood an ancient altar, covered in symbols unfamiliar to Haruto.
Lucius stopped and looked at Haruto. "This is the place. Here, the power that has been sleeping within you will fully awaken."
Haruto could feel something powerful flowing through the air, as if the very space around them was filled with an overwhelming energy—one that could destroy everything if not handled correctly. "Do I have to do something?" he asked, his voice tense.
Lucius nodded slowly. "You only need to touch the altar. Let the power flow freely. That is when you will discover who you truly are. Don't be afraid of what happens next."
Taking a deep breath, Haruto stepped toward the altar. His right hand clenched the edge of the stone, feeling the vibrations of energy beginning to surge through his body. Instantly, his entire being felt as if it were burning—as though something immense was merging with him. The power was like an unstoppable storm, seeping into every fiber of his being, reminding him of his past as an undefeated war king.
But within that power, there was also an overwhelming fear. Haruto felt himself torn between two worlds—the world he wanted to forget and the world he wished to embrace, a world filled with peace.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind. "You are not just Arlan. You are more than that. This world needs you to choose your path."
Haruto's eyes widened in shock, but he couldn't move. "Who… Who's speaking?" he shouted in his mind, but there was no answer. The power continued to surge, growing stronger and deeper.
Across the altar, Lucius remained silent, watching the process unfold.
Haruto let out a scream as the power overwhelmed him. His past memories began flooding his mind—countless battles, betrayals, and endless regrets. But amidst all of it, he realized one thing—he was no longer just a soldier. He was someone who held the fate of this world in his hands.
When the surge of power finally reached its peak, Haruto felt his body lift off the ground, as if he had complete control over the world beneath his feet. And when it all finally settled, he collapsed to the ground, exhausted and dizzy.
Lucius stepped forward, his eyes gleaming. "Your power has awakened, Haruto. But remember, this power is not something to be used carelessly. You must learn to control it, or it will control you."
Haruto, gasping for breath, remained silent. Deep in his heart, he knew one undeniable truth—this journey had only just begun. There was no turning back.