Chapter 2: The Curse of Awakening
Lucian realized the horrifying truth —
The moment you break the cycle, you do not free anyone.
You simply become the next god of the cycle.
He watched as the forest regrew.
He watched as another axe was born.
He watched as another hero rose to fight the axe.
And he laughed bitterly —
"I did not free them. I have become their new jailer."
And so… Lucian now carried the burden of a God.
He understood why every God before him did nothing.
Because if he destroyed the axe, the forest would overgrow and collapse.
If he destroyed the forest, the world would become lifeless.
And if he interfered — the cycle would simply reset.
And now Lucian understood.
God does not stay silent because He is cruel.
God stays silent because He has no choice.
And for centuries… Lucian did nothing.
He watched the world suffer — because intervening would break the balance.
Until one day…
Another human rose — like Lucian once did.
And this human declared — "I will break the cycle!"
Lucian smiled bitterly and whispered —
"And then you will become me."